Poland is preparing for war. General Kukuła: “We have limited time”. He's not the only 1 who says that. “Russia builds a powerful army in the rear”

Instead of relying on space to halt the Russians, Poland plans to increase its armed forces more than twice to half a million soldiers and train millions of reservists, said Tusk in the Parliament in March. “By the end of the year, we want to have a ready-made model so that all adult man in Poland is trained for war and that this reserve is adequate for possible threats,” he explained, adding that Women can sign up too. Training will be voluntary, pointed out, seeking to balance the concerns of returning to an highly unpopular military draft policy which ended in 2008.

For Poland, a country with advanced incomes and 1 of the strongest economical growth indicators in the EU, the transition to combat readiness will mean a change of mindset — and many citizens will gladly start training. “I truly want to go through training, and if that happens, driven by hatred of Putin, I want to defend my home, shoot them and make their lives hell,” said Marek, a 37-year-old media maker from Warsaw who asked to change his name to not be recognized.

— I want to defend everything I've worked for, everything I've built. In this country, I deserve my home, my place, my safe space, and no Russian bastard can take it distant from me. They can sleep where they came from," he added.

PAP/Artur Reszko/ PAP

Prime Minister Donald Tusk (second left) and Chief of Border defender Gen. Dyw. SG Robert Bagan (L) during the crossing along the Polish state border with Belarus in Ozeroany Mały, 22 March 2025.

“We should reconstruct conscription to the military”

Details are inactive being developed by the military to propose a plan by the end of March, said Cukula. Legislative work is expected to start shortly afterwards. The authorities plan to launch short-term military training programmes aimed at civilians without prior experience, stated ‘Rzeczpospolita’. Courses, which last only a fewer days, will introduce participants to the basis of civilian protection, first aid and selected military skills.

For those with prior military training, the government offers targeted refresher courses to improve specialist skills, including proficiency in firearms, combat medicine and land navigation. Civilians looking for more comprehensive preparation can enroll in a monthly training program, available in both individual and online form.

“General Kukuła explained.

The first plan involves training 100,000 people by the end of 2026 — The second nonsubjective is even more important: we must prepare society for the consequences of the crisis, even if not all will undergo military training," he added.

But time may not be on the side of Poland, inform any high-ranking military. “The Russians are building a powerful army in the back. If peace is not achieved and the NATO divided continues, Russia will attack the Baltic countries said erstwhile Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army General Leon Komornicki. — This may happen at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year. The invasion is part of their plan," he said.

Jarosław Kraszewski, a erstwhile commander of Polish missile, rocket and ground troops, told Radio Zet that Tusk's plan is not adequate and besides late. "Train 100,000 people a year? Not enough. We should return the draft to the army," the general said. "We have moved on to a consumer lifestyle, the joy of democracy and seamless travel around the world, but we have forgotten that each of us should have basic cognition in this regard."

Łukasz Gągulski/ PAP / PAP

General at remainder Leon Komornicki on the panel “Modernization of the Polish Army – are we wise to catch up?” on the second day Krynica Forum 2024 “Empowering the Region”, Krynica-Zdrój, 19 September 2024.

“I can’t imagine moving distant if war comes to us”

The polls propose that the thought has any public support — but it is not overwhelming. According to 1 poll, more than half of Poles support the initiative, while 39 percent said that they would gladly participate. Another survey showed that about 2 thirds of Poles would stay in the country if war broke out, while 1 3rd would effort to escape.

— If the war had come to us—which I think is improbable but not impossible—in spite of what Donald Tusk says today, conscription to the military would have been restored, and men, apart from a fewer exceptions, would have a ban on leaving the country," said Patrycja Wieczorkiewicz, a writer of leftist “Political Criticism”. I can't imagine moving distant in this situation... Leaving behind her friends, colleagues and others, she added.

However, she admitted that her motive was not patriotism. “This would not be a fight for Poland, but against a fascist-imperialist aggressor who kills, rapes and tortures. On the basis of what Tusk has said so far, the program will be comprehensive, including truck driving courses, so I believe that there will be something suitable for me too," said Wieczorkiewicz.

But not everyone is ready to go to war in defence of the country. The fresh “Gazeta Wyborcza” study quoted Polish residents of cities who doubted that their country had offered them adequate to feel obliged to pay.

"I am a patriot, I love my country, but that doesn't mean I gotta die for it. I would not be useful in the war — unless as cannon meat,” said a paper student. “My attachment to this country is defined by the taxes I pay and the fact that it does not give me a real chance to start a household in decent conditions,” said the student, referring to the advanced prices of housing in Poland and the most costly mortgages in Europe.

"Financial incentives will be key"

The government must make all effort to guarantee adequate interest in the program, said military expert Marek Kozubel. ‘Financial incentives as well as an effective marketing run will be key highlighting the benefits of participation in training programmes. They should include skills useful in professional life, specified as advanced cognition of mechanics or drone handling," he added.

According to General Kukuła, the training will aim to offer Polish people “the skills useful both during war and peace, specified as cybersecurity or medical training”. “These skills may besides be desirable in the labour market,” he said. The incentives considered include financial compensation or taxation relief for participants and their employers, added the general. “We want the Polish State to make it clear that we respect those who contribute to our defence,” he said.

“No 1 will be rejected,” he told Polish Radio Minister for Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. "Not everyone will become a soldier, even by age, but he can undergo training from civilian protection, first aid and crisis response," he explained.

Adult military training seems to be just part of a larger strategy that the Tusk government is trying to build, expecting the worst from Russia. A school program called "education with the military" is being expanded and physical education lessons will besides include a civilian defence element, most likely from September.

— If we are prepared and if Russia knows we are, it will be a crucial deterrent,” Kukuła said. “I think it will be strong adequate that Russia, knowing that, will not even start a conflict,” he added.