Residents of Towns Near Russian Border Uneasy Over Lack of Clear Information, Mayors Say

Residents of towns near Poland’s border are uneasy about the increased police presence in their areas because they lack clear, simple information about what is happening, local officials from border towns told PAP. The officials are calming moods on their own initiative.

“Living close to the border requires greater awareness from us, not greater fear,” Braniewo Mayor Tomasz Sielicki wrote in a post Thursday on his social media channel.

Asked by PAP why he issued a statement to residents about the current situation, Sielicki said that for several days people have been calling City Hall, sending him messages and text messages, and stopping him on the street.

On Monday, National Police Chief Marek Boroń announced that a headquarters had been set up at the National Police Headquarters (KGP) for a special operation being conducted in the Warmian-Masurian and Podlaskie provinces. Police, the military, the Border Guard and special services are taking part in the operation. The head of Poland’s police explained, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk later confirmed, that the actions are linked to signals about possible acts of sabotage near the border with Kaliningrad.

Apart from those announcements, residents of the border towns have received no other information.

“I went to the hairdresser recently. Before I even got inside, I had to explain to several people that nothing bad is happening and that everything is under control. One woman was practically hysterical. I answered patiently, because we can’t leave room for speculation and unverified reports. And no one at the central level has given people reliable, clear and straightforward information. One time it was said that acts of sabotage were being prepared, then right away information about exercises appeared. That leaves people not knowing what is really going on,” Sielicki told PAP.

Residents also sought answers about what is currently happening in their area from Frombork Mayor Damian Krasiński and Górowo Iławeckie Mayor Jacek Kostka. Both local officials told PAP that residents are asking them about it.

“People don’t know what to believe. And their lack of knowledge is a source of rumors and speculation, and anxiety appears,” the Frombork mayor told PAP. He said that in that town, “you can’t really see a much larger police presence.” In his assessment, residents there “are rather calm.” “But of course people are talking and discussing what is happening,” he said.

Kostka told PAP that people in his municipality have lived in the shadow of the border for many years and are used to patrols and services being around; they know that if a stranger appears in the area, it has to be checked. “But the way disinformation has taken over our residents’ social media feeds is simply appalling,” Kostka told PAP. He added that false information appears especially on Facebook. “Accounts almost identical to the official accounts of Polish services show up. I check the information displayed on Facebook against official websites, because I often have trouble telling truth from lies myself. But how many people will verify it? Will check? People read an enormous amount of disinformation every day,” the mayor of Górowo Iławeckie told PAP.

He admitted that he personally would prefer that residents of the town and surrounding area receive a traditional paper newspaper published by state authorities. “People don’t know whom to believe, whom to trust. I think they may still be able to believe us, at the local government level,” Kostka added.

For his part, the mayor of Braniewo urged residents to stay calm while remaining vigilant. He also urged people not to photograph soldiers, police officers, vehicles or their activities, and not to spread information about their locations or movements. He also asked people not to pass on unverified messages and sensational reports.

“Above all, let’s stay calm, but let’s not give up vigilance. The presence of the services and the actions being carried out are not a reason for panic. They are part of prevention and of the state’s preparation for various scenarios,” Sielicki wrote on social media. He added that “Braniewo is functioning normally.” “There is no reason to spread anxiety. There is, however, reason to exercise prudence and responsibility,” the mayor stressed.

Since the special operation headquarters was set up, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that once, on the night from Monday to Tuesday, people with flashlights were observed near the border on the Russian side.

Both Tomasz Markowski, spokesman for the Warmian-Masurian police, and Mirosława Aleksandrowicz, spokeswoman for the Warmian-Masurian Border Guard, assured PAP on Thursday that no other incidents or troubling situations had been recorded in the region along the border with Russia. (PAP)