Poland is to hold closed-door ‘Kraj’ exercises in preparation for the outbreak of war
This is reported by Rzeczpospolita, citing its own sources and the Polish Ministry of Defence.
Rzeczpospolita writes that Poland’s leadership is set to undergo a serious test “in a few days” and practise the outbreak of war. The publication specifies that this refers to exercises codenamed “Kraj”, organised by the Ministry of Defence, with the plan approved by the President on the Prime Minister’s recommendation and coordination provided by the National Security Bureau.
The Polish Ministry of Defence has confirmed the high level of secrecy surrounding these manoeuvres. In a response quoted by Rzeczpospolita, the ministry noted that information regarding the preparation of the exercises, their participants, the scenario, the timing and the venue is classified and carries a high security clearance.
This is not a classic field exercise involving the deployment of equipment or troops, but a test of how the state would act in the event of a military crisis. Rzeczpospolita notes that within this framework, political and strategic decisions are simulated, including the imposition of martial law, coordination between civilian and military authorities, the functioning of crisis mechanisms, and the readiness of the command structure.
What exactly is to be tested during ‘Kraj’
According to the publication, the main aim of the exercises will be to test the readiness of the state’s entire defence mechanism. This involves assessing how strategic plans function, how authorities respond in crisis and wartime situations, the extent to which civilian leadership and military command interact effectively, as well as identifying any remaining weaknesses in management, communication and procedures.
The highest-ranking state officials are set to take part in the exercises. Rzeczpospolita lists among them the president, prime minister, ministers, marshals of the Sejm and Senate, heads of central agencies, the secret services and commanders of the Armed Forces. This effectively encompasses the entire decision-making chain within the state in the event of an external threat.
Why these exercises are receiving special attention
Such strategic exercises are to be held once every four years. The previous ones took place in 2019, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That is precisely why the current “Krai” in Warsaw is seen as a far more important test than before.
This logic is partly confirmed by official materials from the Polish National Security Bureau. The BBN report states that the KRAJ-19 exercise, held on 29 May 2019, was the first strategic test of the state’s defence system in 15 years; it was conducted without publicity and aimed to assess the readiness of central executive bodies to act in a crisis situation. The document also notes that, by law, the President of Poland is the head of such exercises. The political backdrop lends
further significance to the current preparations. Rzeczpospolita links the interest in the exercises to a recent meeting between President Karol Nawrocki and Polish generals, which sparked debate in the country. The publication states explicitly that the upcoming “Kraj” exercise will serve not only as a test of readiness for a military crisis, but also as a test of coordination between various centres of power amid tense political relations.
As a reminder, there are plans to build a modern electronic barrier along the Polish-Ukrainian border.
