The army can enter private plots. In the background, a large operation near the border

The East Shield program, which aims to strengthen Poland’s eastern and northern borders, may mean the use of more than just land belonging to the State Treasury. Due to the planned scale of the investment, the use of private land is also being considered.

The project implementation began in the fall of 2024. According to “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”, over 61 kilometers of the state border have been secured so far. One of the key elements of the project will be minefields.

Shield East and plans to build minefields

The Armament Agency has started market consultations aimed at finding companies capable of producing the appropriate number of mines. Details on the scale of the project remain classified, but leaked documents show that companies were sought with the capacity to produce 16.2 million anti-personnel mines.

The construction of field fortifications and the preparation of areas for minefields require appropriate areas. So far, the army has mainly used state-owned land, but further implementation of the project may require a broader scope of activities.

To effectively fortify a 400-meter-wide strip along the entire border, it may be necessary to also use private plots. This is why the General Staff of the Polish Army is analyzing various solutions regarding land acquisition.

Private plots may be used temporarily

According to information quoted by the daily, one of the variants considered is the formula of “borrowing” land from the owners for several years. However, at this stage, no detailed rules for such a solution have been presented.

Military representatives emphasize that it is still too early to disclose precise information on how private real estate is used. However, this does not change the fact that with such a large investment, the possibilities of acquiring appropriate land are being analyzed now.

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2028

The scope of the project is not limited to the construction of field fortifications and minefields. The program also includes the development of reconnaissance, anti-drone defense and communication systems.

According to current assumptions, the implementation of the entire project is expected to last until 2028. Shield East remains one of the largest projects related to strengthening the security of Poland’s borders, and the next stages of the investment will require the preparation of extensive areas in the border areas.