Poland to Build Watchtowers Along Border with Russia’s Kaliningrad

US soliders from the 3rd Squadron of 2nd Cavalry Regiment drive their Strykers in the convoy from the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in North-Wester, Poland, 28 March 2015. EPA/BGNES

NATO member Poland will build observation towers along its land border with Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad, according to Polish news agency PAP.

The six towers ranging in height from 35 to 50 metres will ensure round-the-clock CCTV monitoring of the 200-kilometre border with Kaliningrad. Russia is said to be stationing short-range Iskander missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads in the region of Kaliningrad.

PAP quoted a Polish border guard service official as saying they are currently in the test phase of the technical installations of the towers and plan to have them fully operational by June. Then, video information from the towers will be streamed to Polish border control posts.

The EU’s External Borders Fund will provide 75% of the estimated cost of the project of over PLN 14 M (EUR 3.4 M). Poland’s border with Russia is part of the external border of the European Union. The construction of the towers comes at a time of mounting tensions between NATO and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

Kaliningrad, wedged between Poland to the south and Lithuania to the north and east, is home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet.

 

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