Polish territorial defence force over 20,000 strong: minister
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
16.05.2019 07:45
A territorial defence force set up by Poland in 2016 has now grown to more than 20,000 soldiers, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has said.
Mariusz Błaszczak (left)
PAP/Marek Zimny
When it was created, officials said the new force was needed in the face of an aggressive Russia.
Błaszczak said on Wednesday: “One of the elements of the defence and deterrence potential of the Polish Army is the expansion of the Territorial Defence Force. This process is taking place very dynamically."
Błaszczak added: "The flexibility of this form of serving in the Polish Army is an additional incentive, because Territorial Defence Force soldiers do not give up their professional activities.”
The force is to a large extent made up of part-time volunteer soldiers.
(pk/gs)
Source: PAP