BRAVO Emergency Grade in Poland: What does it mean for you and Homeland Security?

Poland is entering a fresh phase of increased vigilance. By the decision of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a second alert phase was introduced throughout the country – BRAVO. This is an unprecedented move, which will apply at least until the end of August 2025 and means the most restrictive safety measures in Poland since the end of the martial law. What does this mean for millions of citizens and how will it affect the regular functioning of the country? This article explains all key aspects.

The introduction of the BRAVO alert phase is simply a consequence to the identified, increased and foreseeable hazard of terrorist events, as well as to intensify hybrid actions against Poland. The aim is to guarantee maximum safety for citizens and critical infrastructure.

The BRAVO alarm phase is the second level in the four-stage scale of alarm stages in force in Poland. Its introduction signals that the safety situation is treated by the highest state authorities as very serious and requires immediate, decisive response. The legal basis is the 2016 Anti-Terrorism Act.

In practice, this means a visible change in the scenery of Polish cities and public spaces. In the streets, stations, airports and another public places, uniformed police officers, Border Guards and the Military Police, equipped with full combat equipment, long weapons and bulletproof vests, become regular views. Their presence is preventive and aims to increase the sense of safety and deter possible risks.

Impact on the regular Life of Citizens

The introduction of the BRAVO alert phase has a direct impact on the functioning of many aspects of public and private life. These changes are felt in the largest cities, but concern the full country.

Audits and Public Safety

• Increased checks: safety services received unprecedented powers to carry out intensive inspections of vehicles, persons and public buildings. They have become everyday in areas of peculiar concern or strategical importance.
• Additional check points: They appeared close buying centers, railway stations, airports, sports stadiums, government institutions and another places where a large number of people are concentrated.

Amendments to Public Communication

The protection of public transport systems has been peculiarly enhanced. Passengers request regular baggage and paper checks. In the event of an increased hazard of danger, temporary restrictions on the moving of certain transport lines may besides be possible, which may affect travel plans.

Protection of Critical Infrastructure

Strategic state facilities specified as power plants, refineries, bridges, tunnels and another critical infrastructure elements have been covered by peculiar safety procedures. These include 24/7 monitoring, restricted access zones and an increased number of safety patrols. The Prime Minister's order besides concerns Polish energy infrastructure located outside the country.

Schools and Educational Facilities: fresh Admission Rules

One of the most noticeable changes is extremist procedures in the functioning of all educational institutions. Kindergarten, primary schools, advanced schools and universities were completely closed to outsiders. This means an absolute ban on entry for all who are not straight linked to the functioning of these institutions.

Parents and caregivers who have visited schools freely so far must now go through complex procedures for identity verification and peculiar permissions. Although these formalities are justified by safety reasons, they importantly prolong time and can lead to frustration.

BRAVO-CRP Alarm Grade: Shield for Cyberspace

Parallel to physical safety measures, the Polish government besides introduced an emergency phase BRAVO-CRP. It focuses on comprehensive protection of Polish cyberspace against intensified cyber attacks conducted by hostile states and terrorist organizations, in peculiar the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

• 24-hour monitoring: All public administrations and key critical infrastructure operators (energy providers, telecommunications, finance, transport) were required to monitor their IT systems 24 hours.
• Specialists on duty: Administrators of the most crucial information systems have introduced 24-hour cybersecurity specialists.
• Continuity of electronic services: peculiar attention has been paid to ensuring continuous access to key digital services, specified as e-government, taxation platforms or healthcare systems.

Why was the emergency? Reasons and the Geopolitical Context

The Chancellery of the Prime Minister clearly points to the escalation of hybrid attacks by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus against Poland and another associate States of the European Union. This includes not only cyber attacks, but besides disinformation campaigns, border provocations and economical sabotage.

The BRAVO alert level introduced is preventive. It is implemented in a situation where an increased and foreseeable hazard of terrorist events is identified, with the circumstantial nonsubjective of the possible attack not yet clearly identified. This means that the threat is general and can affect various facilities and institutions throughout the country.

The Prime Minister's decision besides takes into account the long-term geopolitical consequences of Russia's ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine, which fundamentally destabilises safety architecture in Central and east Europe.

Your function in the safety System: How to respond to Suspected Situations?

The effectiveness of counter-terrorism depends not only on the professionalism of the services but besides on active cooperation, vigilance and engagement of citizens. You're an crucial link in the safety system. Pay peculiar attention to non-standard situations, behaviours and circumstances that may indicate the preparation of terrorist acts or sabotage.

What should rise your suspicions?

• Abnormal behaviour: People acting nervously or suspiciously, especially in public places with advanced traffic (trade centres, train stations, airports, stadiums).
• Unguarded items: Packages, bags, backpacks, suitcases left unattended in strategical places or where quite a few people gather.
• Suspected vehicles: Cars parked in an different way or for an excessively long time close strategical facilities, government institutions, mass events sites. Pay attention to drivers or passengers acting nervously, avoiding eye contact, observing objects.

How do we study a suspicious situation?

If you announcement any distress situation, you must immediately notify the applicable safety services:

• Call a national emergency number 112.
• Directly to the police at number 997.

Give the services as precise as possible about the location, a detailed description of the circumstances observed and, if safe, the characteristics of persons or objects. Be careful to avoid direct contact with suspicious persons or objects.

New Reality: Preparedness and Solidarity

The introduction of the BRAVO alarm phase means that the Polish society will operate in the realities of a permanently increased level of safety for the coming months. More frequent and more invasive controls, the ubiquitous presence of armed officers and crucial restrictions on access to certain public facilities will become an integral part of everyday life.

State authorities shall guarantee that all the measures taken are proportionate to the scale of the threat and will be phased out as the safety situation improves. Until then, Polish citizens gotta prepare themselves mentally and practically for life in a new, more restrictive reality, where national safety and protection against external threats become an absolute priority, prevailing over conventional civilian liberties and the convenience of everyday functioning. This requires all of us to have extraordinary mobilization and solidarity.