In Poland, anxiety over Russian aggression is on the rise, and the past weeks have only sharpened those fears. On September 10, 2025, Poland made headlines across Europe and beyond by shooting down Russian drones that had entered its airspace—a dramatic first for any NATO member since Russia’s war in Ukraine began. The Kremlin, for its part, declined to comment on the incident. But for Poles, the message was clear: the threat from the east is no longer abstract. It’s real, and it’s here.
Public reaction has been swift and resolute. According to Reuters, more than 20,000 Poles signed up for voluntary military training in just the first seven months of 2025, matching last year’s record surge. By the end of the year, officials expect around 40,000 volunteers to have completed their training—more than doubling the 16,000 who went through the program in 2022. The surge reflects a new wave of civic engagement, as citizens from all walks of life prepare for the unthinkable.
One such volunteer is Agnieszka Jedruszak, an office administrator who found herself digging a trench just six kilometers from the Russian border at the Branevo training ground. As she put it, “I will do everything to protect my child. And I will definitely fight to protect him.” The training ground, nestled among forests and sandy terrain, reverberated with the roar of South Korean K-2 tanks and the shouts of commands. “Deep down, I always feel like something could happen,” she admitted. Her determination is echoed by thousands of other Poles, each motivated by the same desire: to be ready if their country calls.
Poland’s military infrastructure is evolving rapidly to keep pace. The government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has more than doubled defense spending since 2022, ramping up from 2.2% of GDP to a staggering 4.7% this year. That’s the highest ratio in NATO, outstripping even traditional military heavyweights like Germany, France, and Britain. The Polish army now boasts 216,000 troops, making it the third-largest in the alliance—behind only the United States and Turkey, as NATO figures confirm.
But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. The government is also relocating military units eastward, tapping into regions with stronger recruitment pools. Training is designed to be flexible: volunteers can opt for professional service, join the Territorial Defense Forces, or remain in the reserves. As Colonel Grzegorz Wawrzynkiewicz, head of the Central Military Recruitment Center, explained, “By the end of this year, about 40,000 volunteers should undergo military training, which is more than twice the figure for 2022.” The goal is a scalable force, ready to support Poland’s defense strategy if needed—a model inspired by similar systems in Lithuania and Germany.
Yet, as Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk pointed out, technology alone isn’t enough. “When there is war or the threat of war, the most basic things are most important: fuel, ammunition, and people.” The emphasis on training sufficient personnel, he argued, remains central to Poland’s ability to defend itself. Volunteers train alongside professional soldiers but aren’t part of regular units unless officially commissioned, ensuring flexibility and rapid scalability in a crisis.
Amid these preparations, international cooperation has become a cornerstone of Poland’s defense posture. On September 12, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in Kyiv. According to The Guardian, the two leaders discussed not only recent airspace violations but also the possibility of expanding joint efforts to counter Russian drone threats.
One innovative initiative stands out: Polish counter-drone units will receive practical training from Ukrainian operators at NATO training centers within Poland. The aim is simple but crucial—to strengthen the region’s defense against Russian drone attacks and increase readiness for operational action. As Sikorski noted, Ukraine brings “better equipment to counter Russian drones and a far deeper and more up-to-date experience of war with the Russian army.” Ukrainian instructors will share their expertise within NATO training frameworks, passing on hard-won lessons from the front lines.
Training in Poland provides a safer environment than Ukraine, allowing participants to focus on practical skills without exposing local resources to undue risk. “Ukrainians can train allies to effectively counter Russia, and not the other way around,” Sikorski emphasized. Such collaborations not only enhance technical capabilities but also strengthen mutual understanding among allies—a vital ingredient in the face of hybrid threats and increasingly sophisticated unmanned systems.
Indeed, the region has seen multiple incidents of airspace violations by Russian drones and aircraft in recent years. Prime Minister Tusk has briefed NATO leaders on the situation, urging tighter coordination among member states. In response, NATO has called for more consultations and data sharing to ensure a unified and effective response. The alliance estimates that Russia will need several years to prepare for any potential conflict with the West, but as Pawel Zalewski, Polish deputy defense minister, told Reuters, “This timeframe is also our horizon. We are ready to face the threats of today—and preparing for the threats of tomorrow.”
On the ground, practical safety and communication are getting a boost as well. On September 4, 2025, Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) Poland and U.S. Army Garrison Poland Safety Officer Joe Calderon led a vehicle and equipment ground guide and safety course at the Swietoszow Military Community. The training, developed in response to minor property damage incidents and communication challenges among Polish forklift operators, focused on hand and arm signals, standardized ground guide procedures, and risk mitigation. As Brian Waltrip, LRC Poland site lead, explained, “Ground guides provide a critical second set of eyes, and safety, not speed, is the most important thing when operating a forklift and moving equipment.”
This initiative, a collaboration between the 43rd Wojskowy Oddział Gospodarczy Host Nation Support Section and U.S. military logisticians, represents a first-of-its-kind international partnership. The plan is to extend this training to all Garrison Support Elements and Regionally Aligned Forces within the Swietoszow Military Community, further cementing the commitment to safety and cooperation between U.S. and Polish forces.
As Poland braces for an uncertain future, one thing is clear: the country is mobilizing not just its military, but its people, alliances, and expertise. From the forests of Branevo to the corridors of NATO, Poles and their allies are working side by side—determined, prepared, and unwilling to be caught off guard.