Poland prepares for war as official warns of Russian action within months

“We are preparing for war while hoping it will never happen,” Tomczyk said.

Poland is also preparing for possible attacks on infrastructure and energy facilities, he added.

Addressing the country’s multibillion-dollar defense spending, Tomczyk highlighted the SAN system being developed under the East Shield program. He described it as Europe’s most advanced counter-drone system.

“We are not building an army for a news conference,” Tomczyk said. “We are building it on the assumption that it must be ready to conduct national defense operations under extremely adverse conditions.”

Tomczyk also pointed to an assessment by Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander in Europe, that Russia could rebuild its military capabilities by 2027 and be ready for a conflict with Europe.

“We no longer classify scenarios as realistic or unrealistic, but as likely or unlikely,” Tomczyk said. “I would not set a deadline today. Even a large-scale provocation by the Kremlin could quite possibly happen within several months.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during Polish Armed Forces Day events in Gdynia on Aug. 15 that the country’s military should become the largest in Europe.

“We are building forces whose modern capabilities and size will shape the fate of the region,” Tusk said.

Poland also held the largest military parade in its history on Aug. 15. More than 60 military aircraft flew over Warsaw, including a state-of-the-art U.S. F-35 fighter jet.