In parallel, we request to build a “sword” and “sword”, i.e. on the 1 hand, to make the resilience of the state, e.g. by saturating military anti-aircraft defence systems, on the another hand to build tools for effective deterrence. In the face of Russia, it is not a "shield" and a "sword" serves as a deterrent, the goal of which is to prevent war," says General Wiesław Kukuła, Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army.
This year's celebrations of the Polish Army are held under the motto "Thank you for your service". This is an expression of the focus of the Ministry of National Defence and the command of the Polish Army in its activities on the most crucial component of the safety system, or soldier. The proof that this optics has not been developed solely for the purposes of the vacation is Operation Szpej. Since its launch, the subject has been widely commented on in garrisons, which only shows how much changes were needed in this area. How do you justice her course? Success?
General Wiesław Kukuła:The operation is an crucial component of the transformation of the Armed Forces of Poland. Its aim is not only to equip soldiers with the best individual equipment and to amend the legal acts governing this process, but most importantly, a intellectual change that permanently states care for the equipment of each soldier on the part of the superiors. This change must concern the distribution strategy and access to equipment, i.e. logistics, but besides the improvement of competences for its use, i.e. simple training. I look at the operation systemically, assessing all her lines of effort and partial targets. The phase at which the operation is carried out does not yet let for a final assessment. The fact is alternatively a extremist increase in the acquired equipment, as you can already see in the units. And that will continue. We inactive have fresh tools to implement, specified as an online equipment platform that is mostly available, allowed for usage by all soldiers or a mobile application that informs about soldier's debts and allows distant ordering of the required equipment. However, I stress that intellectual changes are the most important. I inactive see superiors for whom uniformity of equipment has a value higher than combat capabilities or the comfort of soldiers. Fight is not a defilement! specified commanders will not lead their men to victory. I anticipate all my commanders to respond harshly to any specified attitude.
F-16 during exercises at 31st Poznań-Krzesina Tactical Aviation Base.
The biggest exercises of the Polish Army, the “Iron Defender” this year, are approaching. Is this truly Poland's consequence to “Zapad ’25”?
Yes, the “Iron Defender” will be held in parallel with the “Zapad’25” exercise, which, for apparent reasons, requires us to keep increased readiness for possible and anticipated provocations. We remember very well that the exercises organised by the Russian Federation entail considerable risks to neighbouring countries. That is why we must take this into account erstwhile planning our action.
What do we want to practice during the Iron Defender?
The "Iron Defender" is fundamentally a federation of more than 30 exercises, during which a full of more than 30,000 soldiers from Poland and allied states will cooperate. In the fields of Orish, Ustka, fresh Oak, but besides in the Baltic, airspace and cyberspace, they will focus on activities verifying our defence systems, including integration of recently acquired combat systems. We will besides devote much attention to tactical integration with the National Fear and defence Programme "Tarcza East". However, our most crucial nonsubjective will be to check the combined fire management strategy at division level, the alleged JAGIC, which will be implemented by our 18th Division.
Why was there a tactical relationship?
Because the 18th Division has accepted the most fresh weapons systems. She is besides 1 of our divisions called Tier-1 and has never practiced in full composition before. It will be a good chance to get proposals for the recently created divisions and a good prelude for certification of 2nd Polish Corps.
K9 during training on the ground.
You mentioned that the 1st Legion Infantry Division will participate in the Iron Defender. She's inactive forming, and she's already engaged in action?
The process of creating a fresh division takes many years and is very expensive. At this stage, our recently created 2 divisions are qualified as Tier-3 units. Attributing them to higher levels will take place after saturating the equipment and completing the training process of individual states. The selected structures of the 1st Legion Infantry Division due to the advanced process of achieving readiness can already participate in command and relay exercises with troops. Exercises specified as “The Iron Defender” are a good chance for this.
ORP Gen. T. Kościuszko.
The armed forces besides make fresh types of troops – medical and drone troops. And what are the Chief of General Staff's recommendations for the future of the army?
These recommendations will be precisely defined in the fresh Armed Forces improvement Programme from 2025 to 2039. I believe we will have his acceptance by the end of September. These recommendations are commonly referred to as "a large seven", which is the transformation directions that prepare the Armed Forces of Poland for victory. These include: a talent designation system-based fresh model of personnel management, multi-domain operations, deep precise firing and dominance in the air, rocket and anti-aircraft defense, construction of fresh generation passenger reserves, drone and robotics operations, and the usage of artificial intelligence. In parallel, we request to build a “shield” and “sword”, that is, on the 1 hand, to make the resilience of the state, e.g. by saturating troops with anti-aircraft defence systems, on the another hand, to build tools for effective deterrence. For an opponent specified as Russia is not a “shield” and “sword” is utilized to deter war. In this context, further acquisition of deep-precision systems seems obvious. We besides do not neglect droneization, especially in the context of the tactical capabilities of the land troops and the Navy, the improvement of which is coordinated by the late appointed Inspectorate of Unmanned Armed Forces.
It is besides impossible not to ask about the situation at the borders. The engagement of the military is increasing, due to the fact that we are talking not only about the activities on the border with Belarus, but besides with Lithuania and Germany. Is this truly how it should be?
Any another solution would take time to organize and implement it. And we don't have that time. A hybrid attack on our borders is ongoing, and their defence is the constitutional work of the Polish Army. This does not mean that the military's commitment to sealing borders will not be modified. In the armed forces, the Border defence Component is formed. It will be created by 4 converted territorial defence brigades from east Poland, somewhat differently organized and equipped than the others. These brigades will supply direct and immediately available support for the Border defender during the peace period. In parallel, the strengthening of the Border defender is besides ongoing, which will aid to reduce our direct commitment and focus on the processes active in preparing soldiers for combat.
Exercises of the 19th Perbujan Territorial Defence Brigade.
General Alexus Grynkewich, the commander-in-chief of the allied forces in Europe, warns that in 2 years a global armed conflict may occur. Do we truly have anything to fear?
Russian reasoning should be defined by 3 vectors. The first is intentions – these do not change and are officially published. The political objectives of the Russian Federation proceed to agree with our sovereignty and another states in the region. The second vector is the possible of our own forces, present heavy engaged and abrasioned in the war against Ukraine. And the 3rd vector, the alleged vector of possibilities, which may arise if there is an external situation that will facilitate Russia's accomplishment of its own objectives by e.g. military aggression or expanding the scope of hybrid activities. This decision vector can activate various events, whether it's a Pacific war or an interior weakness in 1 of the NATO states. specified a methodology of knowing the Russian Federation means that indicating the date of the outbreak of war is far contractual. We estimation that Russia, despite the war in Ukraine, is likely to scope full-scale aggression against NATO by 2030. As military, we set this horizon, which does not mean that if the opportunities I mentioned before do not exist, Russia will not usage them. It doesn't mean the war's gonna blow up. For much depends on us, on our attitude and readiness. Our goal is to deter Russia, which is to discourage war on us.
![Nie spodobało się, iż nazwałam się imamką [Rozmowa z Seyran Ateş]](https://cdn.oko.press/cdn-cgi/image/trim=398;0;424;0,width=1200,quality=75/https://cdn.oko.press/2025/08/AFP__20170728__R207J__v1__HighRes__GermanyFranceReligionIslamMosque.jpg)
