A military program to train citizens how to respond in crisis situations has begun in Poland amid growing public alarm in the face of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
The program kicked off on Saturday. The government has made a nationwide call for participation in the plan to ready the public for emergencies that would follow an invasion by foreign forces.
A sense of unease about Russia has been growing in Poland. In September, Russian drones violated Polish airspace. In November, a Polish railway connected with Ukraine was damaged — an incident Poland’s prime minister suggested was a case of Russian sabotage.
On Saturday, about 60 people gathered at a military base in the suburbs of the capital Warsaw. Under the guidance of military personnel, the volunteers conducted exercises involving firefighting, medical techniques and other emergency responses.
A 46-year-old man who took part said people in Poland need to keep in mind that Russia has been a threat to the country and that they need to be well prepared and trained.
A Polish defense official stressed the need for his country to create proper deterrence and be ready to respond.