Government extends the buffer zone on the Polish-Belarusian border until June 2026

On 25 February 2026, the Minister of the Interior and Administration signed an ordinance extending the prohibition on staying within a zone ranging from 200 m to 4 kms along the Polish-Belarusian border until 4 June 2026. This buffer zone was introduced on 12 June 2024, pursuant to Article 12a(2) of the 1990 Protection of the State Border Act, which allows for such a ban to ensure the safety of officers and soldiers along the border.

The area covered by the buffer zone spans a section of the border over 78 km in length, located within the operational areas of the Border Guard outposts in Michałów, Narewka, Białowieża, Dubicze Cerkiewne, and Czeremcha. Along approximately 59 km of the border, the restricted zone extends 200 metres from the state border line. In areas covering nature reserves (approximately 15 km), the zone extends up to 2 km inland, while on a section of around 4 km, it reaches up to 4 km inland.

Together with restrictions on access to asylum at the Polish-Belarusian border, in force since 27 March 2025, the measure reportedly aims to address continued migratory pressure from Belarus and to combat migrant smuggling. The Ministry of the Interior reports that since 5 December 2025, the Border Guard has recorded around 280 attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus, representing an 80% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.