Image Credentials: Image Title: Polish Intelligence Chief Warns Country Must Prepare for Possible Conflict With Russia. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: June 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle
Poland’s chief of the Foreign Intelligence Agency (Agencja Wywiadu), Paweł Szota, has warned that the country should prepare for the possibility of an armed conflict with Russia, arguing that the current security environment demands a constant state of readiness.
In remarks published on Monday by the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita and reported by TVP World, Szota said Polish institutions must adapt their thinking to the evolving security situation created by the Kremlin’s actions.
“Today, taking into account the full spectrum of threats from the Kremlin, we must shape our mindset accordingly and in our day to day operations act as if an armed conflict with Russia were a near term prospect,” he said.
Growing concerns over Russian actions
Szota described Russia’s level of aggression as “very high” and warned that the possibility of a direct military confrontation should be regarded as a genuine risk rather than a distant scenario.
According to the intelligence chief, Poland is already witnessing Russian attempts to test NATO’s responses through various forms of provocation.
“We assume that Russian provocations, testing NATO, which we are already observing, for example, in Poland, will certainly continue,” he said. “The Russians are observing our reactions.”
Poland, which shares borders with both Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, has significantly increased defense spending and military preparedness since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
War in Ukraine expected to continue
Szota also suggested that Moscow retains the capacity to sustain its military campaign in Ukraine for several more years, despite heavy battlefield losses and international sanctions.
He argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to abandon the conflict because victory remains central to his domestic political narrative.
“Putin will not give up this war because, especially domestically, he must present himself as the victor,” Szota said.
Poland reinforces its security posture
Poland has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest military and political supporters while simultaneously accelerating its own military modernization. Warsaw has expanded defense procurement, strengthened border security, and increased cooperation with NATO allies amid continued concerns over regional stability.
Polish officials have repeatedly warned that Russia’s hybrid tactics, including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and border provocations, could intensify even if the fighting in Ukraine eventually subsides.
Szota’s latest comments underscore growing concern among Polish security officials that sustained vigilance will remain essential as Russia continues to challenge NATO’s eastern flank.