September 10, Pozirk. Bus operators have started cancelling scheduled trips to Polish cities following yesterday’s announcement of border closure by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who linked the move to the upcoming Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2025 drill.
Ecolines, one of the largest bus companies operating routes to Poland, has deactivated ticket purchases starting September 12.
Rich Bus (Atlas) carrier said yesterday that it would provide additional information about any changes to the international bus schedule, yet as of this morning, no updates have been posted. The Warsaw-Minsk bus with departure time at 5.30 am has reportedly left on schedule.
Firma SGBUS cancelled its routes connecting Hrodna and Warsaw from September 12 to 16, offering travelers to exchange purchased tickets for this period for other dates or a full refund.
The DND Group carrier has also cancelled connections between Hrodna and Warsaw from September 11 to 16 and between Warsaw and Hrodna from September 11 to 17.
The Homiel-Poznań and Maładziečna-Warsaw routes will not operate from September 12 to 19 and from September 10 to 19, respectively.
Belarusians are seeking other options to enter the European Union, mostly via Lithuania as it is still operating two border crossings on the Belarusian border. However, online chats reflect pessimistic moods among Belarusians, who discuss the potential evacuation from the country in case of an unforeseen emergency during the Zapad-2025 drill.
Poland’s Tusk described the exercise as aggressive, noting that the synapsis focuses on the vulnerable Suwałki Gap between Lithuania and Poland. He also cited tensions between the two countries, including the recent brutal arrest of Grzegorz Gaweł, a Carmelite monk, in Lepiel, Viciebsk region.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said Poland may close its border with Belarus for a period extending beyond Zapad-2025. He said that the border would open when officials are fully confident that Belarus does not pose a direct threat to Poland or its citizens.
Zapad-2025 is scheduled to take place in Belarus from September 12 to 16.
The maneuvers in Belarus are expected to involve around 8,000 troops, including 2,000 Russians, Mindaugas Mažonas, head of Lithuania’s Second Investigation Department, told LRT earlier. Minsk has not disclosed the number of participants.
Yesterday, Lithuania announced additional measures to beef up security at its borders with Belarus and Russia during the exercise.
