Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Barbara Erling

Poland prepares 40-page ‘how to’ guide to coping in case of war

Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, an interior ministry official says.

The 40-page pamphlet - titled "Safety guide" - aims to strengthen national resilience amid heightened regional uncertainty, including conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

It will include advice on getting clean water, responding to air raids or blackouts and locating bomb shelters, as part of the first public awareness campaign of its kind in Poland in decades.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that the threat of a global war is serious and real, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and allegations of Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks against the West.

Russia has repeatedly denied that it engages in sabotage or cyberattacks on other countries and says it has no intention of starting a war with NATO.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (AP)

"Wars are not won on the front lines. The Ukrainian example shows it very clearly," said Robert Klonowski, Polish interior ministry deputy director.

The booklet warns that during a crisis, supplies of food, medicine, and gasoline could run short, the government said.

The booklet, which will be released online in September in Polish, will later be translated into English and Ukrainian, with plans to produce a Braille and children's version, the ministry added.

Ministry plans to deliver printed copies to all 14 million households in Poland.

Poland, which borders Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, has been a leading voice calling for members of NATO to spend more on defence, and is itself allocating 4.7 per cent of gross domestic product to boosting its armed forces in 2025.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.