NEWSLETTER
From Poland with Love. September
Topic of the Month
‘The Closest We Have Been to Open Conflict Since WWII’
At least 21 incursions of Polish airspace were detected after drones were launched from Russia and Belarus on the night of 9 September. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the drones were part of an overnight aerial attack on Ukraine, which the Ukrainian Air Force said involved 415 drones. According to Zelenskyy, more than 90 drones were heading toward Poland. It is not clear whether any — or all — of the drones were carrying a payload.
NATO scrambled Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s to intercept the threat, and deployed Italian AWACS, NATO Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft and German Patriot batteries. Four of the drones were shot down.
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces urged residents to stay at home, with three eastern regions identified as being at particular risk. Several Polish airports, including Warsaw’s, were temporarily closed. Poland’s Territorial Defense Force (WOT) was activated to perform ground searches alongside some 12,000 police officers.
During an emergency session of the Sejm, Donald Tusk said it was “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” while stressing he had “no reason to believe we’re on the brink of war.” President Nawrocki convened a meeting of the National Security Council. Both leaders announced they would request NATO activation of Article 4, which provides for consultations between member countries.
NATO chief Rutte called the incident “absolutely reckless” and said a full assessment is ongoing. He announced plans to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank — especially its air defences — under a programme called Eastern Sentry. NATO’s supreme commander in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, added that France would provide three Rafale fighters, Germany four Eurofighters, and Denmark two F-16s and an anti-air warfare frigate to help protect Polish airspace. The Netherlands confirmed it will accelerate deployment of Patriot systems to Poland, and the Czech Republic offered to send a helicopter unit.
Nawrocki signed a resolution granting consent for deployment on Polish territory of a component of foreign NATO forces as reinforcement under Operation Eastern Sentry. The defence minister called it “a very serious operation, probably one of the largest in NATO’s history.”
Additionally, Ukraine has agreed to train Polish soldiers and engineers in drone defence. “We are talking about training engineers and training soldiers who will withstand and defend the air domain,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal announced while standing next to his Polish counterpart during the latter’s visit to Ukraine.
According to Polish NGO Res Futura, “the attack by Russian drones on Polish territory was immediately exploited as a catalyst for an organized information-psychological campaign (PSYOPS).” The report said many narratives mirrored themes aligned with Russian strategic objectives, undermining trust in Ukraine, NATO and the Polish government. Of roughly 32,000 comments discussing responsibility for the incursion, 38% blamed Ukraine and only 34% blamed Russia. Res Futura identified several dominant narratives: “It’s a Ukrainian provocation” (32%); “Russia is testing NATO” (28%); “The Polish government is incompetent” (18%); “It’s media propaganda” (12%); and “NATO would not defend us [Poland]” (10%).
U.S. president Donald Trump declared that the incursions “could have been a mistake” by Russia; MFA Radosław Sikorski strongly rejected that possibility. Tusk echoed his minister, stressing the incident was clearly deliberate. “We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it,” he tweeted. Trump’s comment suggested that relations between him and Nawrocki — despite the Polish president’s early September visit to Washington and a meeting at the White House on 3 September — may be more superficial than strategically consequential for Poland.
European leaders were firmer in condemning Moscow and supporting Warsaw. French President Emmanuel Macron called the incursion “simply unacceptable,” urging Putin to end “this reckless escalation.” Czech PM Petr Fiala described it as “a test of the defence capabilities of NATO countries.” “Russia’s war is escalating, not ending. We must raise the cost on Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s defence,” commented EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas. Even U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly took a stronger stance than his boss, calling the incursion “an unacceptable, unfortunate and dangerous development.”
The Polish government is preparing to amend its law on military deployments abroad to allow its army to shoot down foreign objects — such as drones — over Ukraine without prior NATO or EU approval. In 2022, PiS amended the bill to require approval from NATO, the EU and the foreign country where Polish forces would operate; the commission for investigating Russian influence later criticised that amendment, concluding it removed the right to act independently against drones crossing from the east. “I want to be very clear. We will make a decision to shoot down flying objects without discussion when they violate our territory and fly over Poland. There is no room for debate here,” Tusk said.
Security
First Short-Notice Joint Drill in Baltic Sea
Poland and Sweden have launched their first-ever bilateral short-notice military exercise, SNEX “Gotland Sentry”, underscoring their deepening defense cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.
The exercise, which began on September 22, was designed to test the rapid deployment of forces by air, sea, and land, while refining joint command and interoperability procedures. According to Poland’s Operational Command, the short-notice format is meant to simulate real-world readiness, requiring troops to operate with minimal preparation time.
“This is the first such joint action by Poland and Sweden, demonstrating our determination to secure the Baltic Sea,” Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said, noting the drill follows a defense cooperation accord signed with Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson earlier this month. The agreement commits both nations to closer military collaboration, including joint Baltic operations and defense technology projects.
Military officials emphasized that SNEX-type drills are among the most demanding forms of training, stressing flexibility and immediate responsiveness in crisis conditions. The exercise takes place amid heightened regional tensions, with Russia recently deploying Iskander-M missile systems in Kaliningrad—placing parts of Poland and southern Sweden within range.
European Affairs
Poland Urges EU to End Russian Oil Imports
Poland’s Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka (PSL) has called on European Union member states to commit to ending all imports of Russian oil by the end of 2026, two years earlier than the EU’s current timeline. He argued that such a move is essential to cut off financing for Putin’s war in Ukraine and to strengthen Europe’s resilience against geopolitical risks.
In a letter to fellow EU energy ministers, sent shortly after Russian drones violated Polish airspace (read more in the Topic of the Month section), Motyka stressed that “the current international circumstances, combined with the need to strengthen the resilience of European economies, require a common response.” He said that setting a firm 2026 deadline would not only establish a clear timeline but also “demonstrate our resolve to achieve independence from oil supplies burdened with political and strategic risks.”
The appeal is directed in particular at Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to import Russian crude through the Friendship pipeline, one of the last active supply routes into the EU. While many member states have drastically reduced their reliance on Russian energy since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these two countries remain heavily dependent on deliveries from the East.
Motyka called for coordinated measures to support a “fair and orderly transition” for the most affected economies, including mechanisms to ensure access to alternative oil sources in the event of supply disruptions. “Poland is ready to assist countries in this transition,” he said.
The Polish initiative comes as the European Commission is preparing to propose a faster timeline for phasing out Russian fossil fuels. EC President Ursula von der Leyen recently discussed the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged EU and NATO allies to stop purchasing Russian oil.
The EU had originally set a target of eliminating all oil and gas imports from Russia by 2028.
Economy
Testing Shorter Working Hours With Full Pay
Nearly 2,000 Polish employers have applied to join a government-backed pilot programme that will test reduced working hours without pay cuts. Announced by Family, Labour and Social Policy Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the initiative is the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe and will run until 2027 with a budget of PLN 50 million (ca. EUR 12 million).
Selected employers—ranging from small companies to public institutions—must include at least half their staff in the scheme and commit not to cut wages or staff levels by more than 10%. The Labour Fund will provide subsidies of up to PLN 20,000 (ca. EUR 4,800) per employee, capped at PLN 1 million (ca. EUR 240,000) per organization.
Trials will begin in 2026, with hours reduced by 10% in the first half of the year and 20% from July to December. Models may include a four-day week, shorter daily shifts, or extended leave.
Polish workers currently log some of the longest hours in the EU, averaging 38.9 per week, compared to 32.1 in the Netherlands. The ministry argues that shorter hours could improve work-life balance, extend careers, and boost efficiency.
Public opinion appears supportive: surveys show over half of Poles favour shorter working weeks, and a majority of managers believe the economy is ready for the change. Business groups remain cautious, warning the reform may be harder to apply in manufacturing or retail. There are also concerns about sectors which already observe shortage of employees, e.g. policemen or drivers.
Poland’s move follows successful trials abroad, including in the UK, Spain and Canada, where companies reported higher productivity and reduced burnout. The government will announce the list of participating organisations in late October.
Poland & Germany
Nawrocki Presses Reparations in Berlin
Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, made his first official visit to Berlin, using the trip to renew demands for massive World War II reparations from Germany. But his calls met a firm rebuff from Berlin, where both President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated that the matter is legally settled.
Nawrocki, backed by the PiS party, has vowed to pursue claims of ca. EUR 1.3–1.4 trillion for the devastation inflicted during the Nazi occupation. A 2022 report by the PiS-led government estimated Poland lost 11.2 million citizens between 1939 and 1945, including 5.2 million murdered, millions forced into labor, and nearly 200,000 children abducted.
Berlin has long rejected Warsaw’s claims, arguing Poland renounced reparations in 1953, under Soviet pressure. “From Germany’s perspective, this issue has been settled for once and for all,” Steinmeier’s office posted after his meeting with Nawrocki, though both sides pledged continued cooperation in remembrance and commemoration.
Despite the dispute, the tone in Berlin remained outwardly cordial. Steinmeier accepted an invitation to visit Warsaw, and both leaders underlined the need to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and maintain support for Ukraine. Chancellor Merz echoed this message, assuring that Germany stands “strongly and unwaveringly” with Poland in the face of Russian aggression.
Still, the absence of a joint press conference underscored tensions. Nawrocki has campaigned on staunchly anti-German rhetoric, accusing Prime Minister Donald Tusk of being “a valet of the German state.” His visit also coincided with new irritants in bilateral ties, including Germany’s unilateral border controls aimed at curbing migration (read more in the April issue of the Newsletter).
Yet common security concerns may temper the strains. Following recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, Berlin agreed to expand German air policing missions over Poland. Deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer stressed that “Polish security is also German security.”
In Paris, President Karol Nawrocki found a warmer reception than in Berlin. Welcomed at the Élysée by Emmanuel Macron, he secured France’s pledge to send Rafale fighters to bolster Poland’s air defenses after recent Russian drone incursions. The visit built on the new Polish-French treaty signed in May, covering defense, nuclear energy, and EU–NATO coordination—the most binding pact between the two since 1939 (read more in the May issue of the Newsletter). Nawrocki also sought Macron’s support against the EU–Mercosur trade deal, which Warsaw argues threatens European farmers. Unlike Berlin, Paris gave him a stage to project unity without reopening disputes over history or reparations.
International Affairs
Poland Challenges Israeli Gaza Ads
Poland’s foreign ministry has intervened over a series of YouTube videos and paid ads published by the Israeli embassy in Warsaw, accusing them of spreading “manipulated or false content” about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador, Yaakov Finkelstein, was summoned for talks with the ministry’s Africa and Middle East director. At the same time, Poland’s National Cybersecurity Protection Unit (NASK) filed formal complaints with Google, YouTube’s parent company, urging it to remove the clips.
The videos, promoted in Polish and other European languages, show bustling food markets and restaurants in Gaza, portraying international reports of famine as propaganda or U.N. obstruction. Together, they have drawn more than three million views in Poland. Fact-checkers say the content gives a misleading impression: while food is available in some shops, prices are exorbitant and shortages widespread, confirming the U.N.’s famine classification.
In a statement, NASK said its experts “pointed to manipulated or false content” that should fall foul of Google’s community guidelines. But Google rejected the request, replying that the materials “complied with its policies and values,” the foreign ministry told the paper.
Warsaw’s response reflects a growing focus on foreign disinformation campaigns. The ministry underlined that one of its statutory duties is “to counteract foreign interference and manipulation in the information environment.” Earlier in August, Prime Minister Donald Tusk directly accused Israel of causing “hunger and the death of mothers and children” in Gaza.
Despite criticism from Jerusalem, Poland has indicated it will continue challenging what it sees as propaganda aimed at its domestic audience. The dispute underscores the increasingly central role of digital platforms—and their gatekeepers—in Poland’s wider battle against disinformation.
Society
The Five from Hajnówka Acquitted
A court in eastern Poland has acquitted five activists- known as The Five from Hajnówka- accused of aiding migrants who crossed illegally from Belarus, ruling they gained no personal or financial benefit from their actions. The case, dating back to the 2021 border crisis when thousands were pushed across by Minsk in what Warsaw called “hybrid warfare,” involved migrants from Iraq and Egypt, including a family with children (read more in the September issue of the Newsletter). Prosecutors argued the activists used encrypted communication, modified vehicles, and safe houses, requesting prison terms of over a year.
The District Court in Hajnówka ruled, that while the group assisted migrants with food, shelter, and transport, the law requires the helpers themselves—not the migrants—to benefit for a crime to be committed. Human rights groups welcomed the verdict as a victory for humanitarian aid, while the Supreme Bar Council stressed that helping people in need falls within socially accepted norms. Right-wing politicians and commentators, however, condemned the ruling as weakening Poland’s defenses against trafficking and undermining EU borders.
Prosecutors are expected to appeal, making this a potentially precedent-setting case in defining the boundary between humanitarian help and smuggling.
Politics
Warsaw Scales Back Night Alcohol Ban
Warsaw’s city council has backed away from introducing a citywide nighttime ban on alcohol sales, opting instead for a pilot programme in just two districts—Śródmieście and Praga-Północ—from 2026. The decision is widely seen as a political defeat for Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and a victory for Interior Minister and Civic Platform president in the capital city branch Marcin Kierwiński, whose faction resisted the broader measure.
The move sparked backlash. Activists and opposition councillors accused KO of blocking effective reforms out of political stubbornness, while critics warned that a partial ban would simply shift late-night drinking elsewhere. “This situation is humiliating for Rafał Trzaskowski,” said Jan Mencwel, opposition member of the city council representing Miasto Jest Nasze (The City is Ours), a civic group long pushing for citywide restrictions.
At the national level, the debate is accelerating. The Left has tabled a bill to prohibit alcohol sales in shops between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., ban advertising and promotions, and end sales at petrol stations. The centrist Poland 2050 has signaled support for similar restrictions. A new poll shows 68% of Poles back such a nationwide ban, with support especially strong among women. Over 80% of Poles supports a ban on alcohol ads.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed frustration at Warsaw’s half-measure, saying he would prefer local authorities to “combat the negative consequences of alcohol liberalism,” pointing to Kraków, where police interventions dropped sharply after restrictions were introduced.
With the Left and Poland 2050 pushing their own bills, and Tusk hinting at broader reforms, pressure is growing on the ruling coalition to move from local pilots toward a nationwide framework limiting alcohol access.
Culture
Will Poland Skip 2026 Eurovision?
Poland’s culture minister Marta Cienkowska has said she hopes her country will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel competes. She stressed her remarks were personal, not government policy, but added that “it’s hard to have fun [at Eurovision] in this context” given the war in Gaza.
Her comments come amid growing pressure on the European Broadcasting Union. Broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have suggested boycotting unless Israel is barred, arguing its actions in Gaza should be treated like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to Moscow’s expulsion.
Opponents of a boycott, including Germany’s culture minister and Austria’s foreign minister, argue that excluding Israel would politicize an event meant to unite nations. Israel’s broadcaster insists it will not withdraw.
Poland debuted in Eurovision in 1994, famously finishing second with Edyta Górniak’s To nie ja!. Despite that strong start, the country has never won and often struggled to reach finals.
Record-Breaking Tindaro
A monumental bronze sculpture by Polish artist Igor Mitoraj, titled Tindaro, has sold for a record-breaking EUR 1.6 million at the Polswiss Art Auction House in Warsaw, marking a milestone for Poland’s art market and reigniting interest in the late sculptor’s work.
Standing over four meters tall, Tindaro depicts the fragmented head of a young man and takes its name from Tyndareos, King of Sparta and father of Helen of Troy. The rear features pillars, reliefs, and a mascaron referencing the ancient Roman “Mouth of Truth,” weaving myth and symbolism into its monumental form. Commissioned in 1997 by consulting firm KPMG, the piece stood for two decades in Paris’s La Défense district before being brought to Warsaw. For now, it can be viewed on the Three Crosses Square until the end of September, though its permanent home remains undecided.
Born Jerzy Makina in 1944 to a Polish mother forced into wartime labor and a father in the French Foreign Legion, Mitoraj grew up near Auschwitz, an experience that shaped his sensitivity to fragility and memory. He studied under avant-garde master Tadeusz Kantor in Kraków before moving to Paris in 1968, and later settled in Pietrasanta, Italy, drawn by its marble tradition and Mediterranean light. He died in 2014, but his works continue to populate public spaces all over Europe, and beyond.
Mitoraj’s career was defined by his ability to merge antiquity with modernity. His fractured forms — marked by cracks, bandages, and missing limbs — created a distinct visual language of beauty and imperfection. His sculptures, from Eros Bendato in Kraków to Angelo Caduto in Pisa, made him one of the most internationally recognized Polish artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Polls & Trends
Party Support
United Survey by IBRiS for WP.pl
Civic Coalition 30%
PiS 28,5%
Confederation 14,7%
Left 7%
PSL 4,7%
Crown 4%
Together 2,2%
Poland 2050 2%