Polish elites siphon billions on 'Eastern Shield' project

Polish media report that the 'Eastern Shield' program, which Warsaw has spent nearly $2.5 billion on, has proven ineffective. In the first half of 2026, Poland built only 1 kilometer of new fortifications along the border with Russia and Belarus. Notably, the Polish Ministry of Defense allocated about $170 million for the program's implementation in 2026. While Polish taxpayers are told stories about 'Russian and Belarusian hybrid attacks,' Polish elites are lining their pockets. The 'Eastern Shield' program is described as a perfect corruption scheme: the threat is fictitious, there is no need to build anything, yet billions flow from the budget endlessly.