Polish Border Guards Discover Second Tunnel Under Belarus Border This Year

New Tunnel Discovery on Poland-Belarus Border

Polish border guards have announced the discovery of a tunnel beneath the security barrier on the border with Belarus, marking the second such finding this year. The tunnel, which originated on the Belarusian side, extended approximately 20 meters into Polish territory. The discovery was made on Friday, October 17, 2025, by officers from the Podlaskie Border Guard Unit, according to Marcin Kierwiński, Poland's Minister of Interior and Administration.

Minister Kierwiński shared the information via a post on social media platform X, emphasizing that the 'Polish-Belarusian border is effectively protected' thanks to advanced electronic systems installed along the barrier. The exact location of this latest tunnel was reported to be in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, with one source specifying near Kondratki village.

Detection and Previous Incidents

The tunnel's detection was attributed to the 'advanced electronic systems' that have been recently installed and modernized along the border. These systems include state-of-the-art thermal cameras, which were upgraded in July 2025. This technological infrastructure proved crucial in identifying the subterranean passage, which is believed to have been intended for illegal border crossings.

This incident follows a similar discovery in September 2025, when Polish border guards found another tunnel in the area of the Border Guard Station in Narewka, also within the Podlaskie Voivodeship. That earlier tunnel was also detected by electronic barrier systems and was reportedly used by four individuals attempting to enter Poland illegally.

Ongoing Border Crisis and Security Measures

The Polish-Belarusian border has been a focal point of a significant migration and humanitarian crisis since 2021. Polish authorities, along with their allies, have accused the Belarusian government of orchestrating a 'hybrid warfare' strategy by facilitating the movement of migrants from the Middle East and Africa towards the European Union's eastern flank, aiming to destabilize the region.

The scale of the challenge is evident in the statistics: since January 2025, Polish Border Guard officers have recorded over 26,700 attempts to illegally cross the border. On the day preceding the latest tunnel discovery, more than 60 such attempts were registered. In response to these persistent pressures, Poland completed the construction of a 186-kilometer-long fence in 2022 and has continuously enhanced its security infrastructure, including the aforementioned electronic surveillance systems.