Alert all over Poland! The government extends the state of BRAVO for holidays

Poland enters summer, but it will not be a typical vacation season. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has taken an unprecedented decision to keep the second alert phase of BRAVO and the specialised degree of BRAVO-CRP throughout the vacationuntil the end of August. This means 1 thing: Poland operates in a government of importantly increased security, and the consequences of this decision will be felt by all citizen and tourist.

Why did the government make specified a decision and what does it truly mean for your plans for the summer? The answer lies in the systematically increasing challenges of national safety from the east European region. This is not just a informing – it is simply a comprehensive consequence to continuous hybrid threats that change the face of our country.

Millions of Poles plan to relax, mass events and travel, and in the background of this summertime carefree war takes place. Can you sleep quietly? See how these regulations will affect your regular life, your vacation plans and the safety of your loved ones.

What changes BRAVO? Service with new, disturbing powers!

The decision to extend the increased alert level of BRAV, based on the 2016 Anti-Terrorist Act, has far-reaching consequences for the functioning of uniformed services and their visibility in public space. Police officers, border guards and military gendarmerie have been formally authorized to usage enhanced equipment, which means that we will see them with long arms and bulletproof vests while securing strategical facilities.

This change has a double purpose. On the 1 hand, it is simply a real strengthening of defence capabilities and the ability to counter terrorist or sabotage threats. On the another hand, this psychological aspect of deterrence. The visible presence of armed services is intended to increase the sense of safety among citizens, but at the same time sends a clear signal to possible perpetrators: Poland is prepared.

For urban residents and tourists, this means 1 thing: much more intensive patrol activity. Reinforced patrols will appear in places with the top traffic – around major communication arteries, buying malls, cultural facilities and wherever large groups of people gather. It's not just prevention, it's constant vigilance in the face of real danger.

The services have besides gained crucial enhanced competence in carrying out detailed safety checks. You can anticipate More control in strategical locations, specified as train and bus stations, airports, sports facilities or performance halls. The control procedures will include checking vehicles, persons and buildings, which may affect an increase in service time. That's the price we pay for increased security.

Schools, transport, institutions: Where will you feel the changes most?

One of the most visible aspects of the safety measures introduced for citizens is restrictive restrictions on access to educational establishments. From kindergartens, simple and secondary schools to universities, all educational institutions were subject to a categorical ban on admission for outsiders. A direct, documented connection to the educational process is now an absolute requirement.

This fundamental change is intended to guarantee maximum levels of safety for children, youth and educational staff, minimising risks in a peculiarly susceptible environment. Directors and administrators have received detailed guidance on the implementation of enhanced access control systems, including mandatory identification, evidence keeping and pass system. It's drastic, but essential measures to defend the youngest.

But that's not all. Comprehensive collateral besides includes all forms of public transport. Buses, trams, trains as well as metro systems were subject to importantly increased supervision. The regular presence of additional safety patrols straight in public transport and at stops, stations and metro stations will become a fresh standard.

Public transport personnel were trained in procedures for handling suspicious situations. Special attention shall be paid to persons leaving luggage unattendedacting suspiciously or showing signs of nervousness. Any passenger who notices anything disturbing should immediately study this to the service or service. Your vigilance can save lives.

Similar reinforcement of the level of safety has been introduced for all state administration facilities and key critical infrastructure. Power plants, refineries, transmission networks, water, gas and telecommunications infrastructure – all these strategical sites received additional multi-level protection systems. The staff of public institutions operate in a 24-hour advanced operational readiness mode, prepared to respond immediately to incidents.

What is BRAVO-CRP? Invisible War in Cyberspace!

Parallel to the conventional BRAVO alert stage, a specialised degree was established BRRAVO-CRP, which focuses on comprehensive protection of Polish cyberspace. This is simply a consequence to systematically intensified and technologically sophisticated cyber attacks, mainly from the territory of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

These organised, multi-faceted cyber activities are now 1 of the most serious threats to the unchangeable functioning of key state information systems, strategical critical infrastructure and public services. Poland becomes the mark for attempts at unauthorized access to government systems, deliberate sabotage of digital infrastructure, theft of strategical state data and actions to disrupt the functioning of key public services.

All public administrations and critical infrastructure operators are required to introduce 24/7 continuous monitoring of their information systems. state-of-the-art threat detection and recognition technologies are used, which are systematically updated. This means that an army of cyber specialists works 24/7 to defend our data and infrastructure.

The IT strategy administrators, key to the efficient functioning of the state, introduced 24-hour on-calls of high-class cybersecurity specialists. These specialised crisis consequence teams have advanced analytical tools that let for a very fast identification, isolation and neutralisation of the threat. The stakes are high: distortions in the functioning of electronic public services can have dramatic economical and social consequences, influencing businesses and millions of Poles utilizing e-government.

National payment systems, extended databases containing delicate citizens' individual information and strategical telecommunications infrastructure received peculiar attention and the highest level of protection. It is the foundation of a modern digital state, and at the same time particularly attractive targets for abroad hybrid actors aimed at the basis of functioning of Polish society and economy.

Why now? A geopolitical context and hybrid threats you request to know about!

The decision to extend the increased alert level throughout the summertime period is not accidental. This is due to the analysis of the nature and dynamics of hybrid risks, which by its nature are not limited to a circumstantial time frame. This. continuous component of modern geopolitical reality, and hybrid operations carried out by entities acting in the interest of reluctant countries in Poland are of a long-term and systematic nature.

The introduction of both complementary alert stages is simply a thoughtful and strategically justified reaction of the Polish government to dramatically changing geopolitical situation in Central and east Europe. Multi-faceted hybrid attacks by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus against Poland and another NATO and EU associate States are systematically increasing.

These comprehensive hybrid activities include a much wider spectrum of activity, far beyond conventional armed conflicts. We are talking about technologically advanced cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, systematic disinformation campaigns conducted on social media and traditional, physical sabotage of key industrial and energy infrastructure, as well as other forms of unconventional warfare, utilizing modern technologies and methods of intellectual impact on society.

The current BRAVO level is definitely preventive and dissuasive. It is established in a situation of importantly increased and realistically foreseeable threat of a serious terrorist or sabotage event, with a circumstantial nonsubjective and circumstantial time and geographical characteristics of the possible attack not yet clearly identified. This. second level in a four-stage scale of alert stages, which means that the Polish authorities measure the current threat as serious and objectively requiring circumstantial enhanced precautions.

Poland is not at war in the conventional sense, but is at the centre of an expanding hybrid war. The decision to keep advanced alert levels throughout the summertime is simply a clear signal that the government is taking this threat fatally seriously. Does this mean our vacations will look completely different? I'm certain it is. Increased vigilance, visible presence of services and awareness of threats are a fresh reality that we gotta face in the coming months.