Polish Border Communities Prepare for New Russian Threats

For residents of the Polish village of Dorohusk, Russia’s war against Ukraine is increasingly being felt beyond the neighbouring country. The village lies just a few kilometres from the Ukrainian border, opposite the Yahodyn crossing, and recent incidents are already affecting border infrastructure and the daily lives of local residents.

On 23 September, air-raid warnings were issued three times in the Dorohusk area. Operations at the border crossing, located around two kilometres from the village, were temporarily suspended several times, while staff were evacuated on one occasion. Military helicopters flew over the area, with traces linked to aerial interceptions visible in the sky.

The situation became particularly sensitive after 13 September, when two Russian drones exploded on the Ukrainian side of the Dorohusk–Yahodyn crossing. The explosions could be heard in the Polish village, prompting local authorities to use sirens to warn residents of an aerial threat for the first time.

For the border community, this was a sign that the nature of the risks is changing. Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure can directly affect border crossings, transport routes and the safety of people on the Polish side, even without a direct attack on Polish territory.

The Border Becomes Part of a New Security System

Dorohusk is strategically important because of its location near one of the main routes between Poland and Ukraine. Significant volumes of cargo, humanitarian aid and other supplies linked to support for Ukraine pass through the Polish-Ukrainian border.

As a result, risks to border infrastructure matter far beyond the local community. Prolonged closures of crossings or damage to road and rail links could disrupt transit and complicate the wider logistics network through which Ukraine receives assistance from its European partners.

Following the recent incidents, Poland is strengthening security along its eastern border. The presence of military personnel and border guards has been increased at some crossings, while physical protection measures are also being reinforced. Polish forces are additionally preparing to counter drones and other aerial threats.

This reflects a broader shift in the approach to security on NATO’s eastern flank. Protecting the border increasingly means not only controlling territory, but also ensuring that transport corridors, logistics hubs and critical infrastructure can continue operating under sustained threat.

Russian Strikes Create Cross-Border Risks

The proximity to Ukraine means Polish communities can feel the effects of the war even when Russian forces do not attack Polish territory. Strikes on targets in western Ukraine can disrupt border crossings, alter transport flows and force Polish services to move to a higher state of readiness.

Drones present a particular challenge. Russia’s large-scale use of unmanned aerial vehicles creates a difficult security environment for neighbouring states: even when most aerial targets are intercepted away from the border, individual drones or debris can end up close to Polish territory.

For Poland, this is also a question of responding to potential hybrid operations. Warsaw has for years viewed its eastern border as an area where military threats can overlap with sabotage, disinformation, cyberattacks and attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure.

Transport infrastructure is particularly important in this environment. Roads, railways and border crossings have economic, civilian and strategic significance, making their continued operation an increasingly important element of national security.

Civilian Preparedness Becomes a New Challenge

Strengthening the military presence does not by itself resolve the challenges facing border communities. Local schools, authorities and residents must also adapt to a situation in which an aerial warning may concern not only Ukrainian settlements several dozen kilometres away, but the immediate area around the Polish border.

Schools in Dorohusk are conducting briefings for children on what to do during an air-raid warning. Some facilities are being prepared for use as temporary shelters, while staff must be ready to organise the rapid evacuation of pupils if necessary.

At the same time, the community does not have enough fully equipped shelters. Some residents may have to rely on basements in private homes, which are not always suitable for safe shelter during an attack. This highlights the gap between the development of military protection systems and the preparedness of civilian infrastructure.

Uncertainty is another challenge for residents. Air-raid warnings may be triggered by events on the Ukrainian side of the border, but people cannot always immediately determine whether there is a direct threat to their own settlement. Frequent alerts are also changing perceptions of security: even without an attack on Polish territory, regularly having to respond to aerial threats is becoming part of everyday life.

From Border Control to Resilience

The Polish-Ukrainian border has long been more than a line of control between two states. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, it has become one of the main routes for humanitarian, economic and military support to Ukraine. Its security is now increasingly shaped by the ability to withstand aerial and hybrid threats.

For Poland, this means protecting several layers of infrastructure at once — from border crossings themselves to railway lines, road routes and logistics centres deeper inside the country. Maintaining alternative routes is also becoming important so that damage to, or the temporary closure of, one crossing does not halt regional transit.

Dorohusk demonstrates how this shift is gradually reaching small border communities. The war remains on Ukrainian territory, but its aerial, logistical and security consequences are increasingly being felt in Poland.