Polish patrols in Białowieża reported eight illegal crossings from Belarus on 7 July, the highest daily tally this month. Migrants waded across the Leśna Prawa river, bypassing the 78-kilometre buffer zone extended until 31 August. Since January the Podlaski Guard has logged more than 220 attempts—down 98 % on 2025—but officials warn that warmer weather and low water levels could tempt smugglers to revive the route. Drones equipped with thermal imaging spotted footprints leading from the riverbank to a pickup point on a forest track used in previous smuggling runs. All eight migrants—five Yemenis and three Eritreans according to preliminary interviews—were taken to a closed centre in Białystok for medical checks and asylum screening. If they do not claim protection, they face expedited return to Belarus under a 2006 bilateral readmission agreement that remains partially operational. Businesses operating accommodation near the border should remind staff of restricted-area rules; unauthorised entry into the buffer zone can result in PLN 5 000 fines. Meanwhile, courier companies are advised to check route planners as sections of the Narewka forest road may close for security patrols. The incident serves as a reminder that, despite headline declines, the eastern flank remains a live mobility flashpoint capable of sudden surges—an important variable for risk managers sending personnel to Podlaskie or neighbouring Lithuania.
Source: Podlaskie Border Guard
