A case that has sparked enormous controversy is entering its decisive phase. The Military District Court in Lublin has scheduled May 27 for the verdict in the high-profile trial of Private Karol S. The young soldier is standing trial for defending Poland’s border against migrants. On Wednesday, both sides delivered their closing arguments.
The incident took place on March 25, 2024, near the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne in northeastern Poland. Early in the afternoon, a group of illegal migrants breached the steel border barrier. They used a car jack to bend apart sections of the fence. After crossing into Poland, they carried ladders intended to overcome another obstacle — coils of concertina wire.
The situation quickly became dangerous and chaotic. Polish patrol units immediately moved toward the breach site, firing warning shots into the air. Among those who heard the gunfire was 25-year-old Private Karol S., who at the time was serving in the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade. Together with another soldier, he ran toward the threat.
According to investigators, while running toward the scene, he fired a total of 12 rounds from his service weapon along the border road. Prosecutors claim the shots were fired in the direction of a group consisting of migrants, Border Guard officers, and soldiers. No one was hit. Three bullets ricocheted after striking a pole, the ground, and coils of barbed wire. At the same time, the migrants were retreating back toward Belarus while throwing stones and tree branches at Polish officers.
“The shots were warning shots”
Karol S. has denied wrongdoing from the very beginning. He has consistently maintained that the shots were warning and alarm shots. According to his account, their purpose was to alert nearby posts, stop migrants attempting to breach the barrier, and support Border Guard officers.
“The accused acted under intense stress, in a real threat situation, during a dynamic border operation in which migrants were acting aggressively before his eyes,” defense attorney Krzysztof Rogalski told the court.
“The accused acted within the limits of the law. His intention was not to endanger anyone, but to fulfill his duties in the extraordinary circumstances that existed on the border at the time,” he added.
The soldier himself testified that before firing he shouted at the migrants: “Polish Army, stop,” followed by: “Polish Army, stop or I will shoot.” According to his account, he fired at a slight upward angle, in what he considered a safe direction.
Strong words from the defense
Another defense lawyer, Edyta Skwira, pointed to what she described as a fundamental issue. If her client — whom she described as highly trained and an excellent marksman — had intended to kill or injure someone, “he certainly would have done so.”
At the same time, the exact trajectories of the bullets were never fully established, no one was struck, and soldiers and Border Guard officers questioned in the case did not state that they considered themselves victims.
The attorney also criticized the indictment itself. In her view, the matter could have been handled through disciplinary proceedings or an ordinary service conversation. Skwira stressed that Karol S. had trained to become a soldier from childhood and loved military service. His conduct at the border, she argued, should serve as an example to others.
The consequences of the charges proved severe for the young serviceman. He resigned from the army, is no longer in service, and has since left the country.
What is the prosecution demanding? Verdict on May 27
Prosecutor Piotr Smoliński maintains that the evidence — primarily expert opinions and camera recordings — confirms the defendant’s guilt. He dismissed Karol S.’s explanations as not credible and merely part of the defense strategy.
The prosecution is seeking six months of restricted liberty, financial compensation of 500 złoty for each injured party, and the public reading of the verdict during an assembly of soldiers from the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade in Wesoła.
For months, the case of Karol S. has fueled heated public debate. For many, it has become a symbol of the difficult situation faced by soldiers serving on Poland’s eastern border — people forced to make split-second decisions under real threat, only to later answer for them in court for years.
The verdict will be delivered on May 27.