Ukrainian offensive in Kursk region. General Maciej Klisz, operational commander of the Armed Forces, comments

Major General Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24 referred to the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Oblast that has been ongoing for over a week. Russia.

He assessed that the Ukrainians' actions “are a surprise for the Russian side”. – A surprise for us, the military? Probably smaller. I would say too much if I said that we expected it. The Ukrainians took advantage of a good moment. As an operational commander, I look at the operation from the Ukraine much more broadly, both on the Ukrainian and Russian sides. Unfortunately, however, not everywhere is as good as in the Kursk direction – said General Klisz. He pointed out here, among other things, Donbas.

The TVN24 guest was asked about the Ukrainians' goals related to the offensive on Russian territory. He said that in his opinion, the goal is not to occupy this territory, for example, until possible peace negotiations begin, but rather to maintain morale among Ukrainian soldiers.

– It is certainly a matter of maintaining morale or showing that Ukraine can also be successful in this difficult conflict. However, I cannot deny that this attack was certainly a surprise for the Russian side, it certainly created many operational dilemmas for Russian commanders, which we can already see now, which can also be seen in the media, which analysts also write about – he added.

General Klisz also spoke about the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. He admitted that there are currently fewer incidents and fewer attempts to cross the border, but as the Operational Commander of the RSZ “he cannot say that it is much better” than it was before.

He said that “the army is constantly learning and the army is a really good student”. – The army benefits from experience. Please remember that the presence of the army on the border, I emphasize with all my strength, (is – ed.) based on the support of the Border Guard, because it is Border Guard has the primary responsibility for protecting the border in the state we are in, he said.

He pointed out that the stabilization of the situation on the border is served, among other things, by the “Safe Podlasie” operation, which – as he said – concerns “de facto the use of armed forces in times of threat to the state”, and in the political dimension also by the announced “East Shield” program. At the same time, he pointed out that ensuring security consists of four areas of the state's functioning – political, military, information and economic.

Piotr Marciniak asked the guest of “Fakty po Faktów” about the incident with the Russian rocket that fell near Bydgoszcz in 2022 and which was found by a random person: – Is it possible that now a Russian rocket will fly into the Polish sky unnoticed?

– As an operational commander, I say “no”. I answer consciously, bearing in mind the burden of statutory obligations, but also military ones. I am talking about the fact that I am creating this entire system – he emphasized and added that it consists of the radar system, the detection system, and the reporting system. He added that every crisis shows some “holes in the system”. – We are ready (to intervene – ed.) at any time of day or night – he assured.

General Klisz also spoke about the procedure for responding to a situation in which, for example, a missile from a foreign country approaches Polish airspace. – Then there is a phone call (to me – ed.), then the entire system is activated. And I am its last part. And this phone call to me, or this information that reaches me, is already carefully prepared by people who are on rescue duty, combat duty, 24 hours a day. I have to make this difficult decision, but I am sure that the people who prepare the entire system will present the situation to me in such an obvious way that I have no problem understanding (the situation – ed.) and making a decision – said General Klisz.

The military officer was also asked whether the decision to shoot down an object is made when the object approaches Polish airspace, or only when it is already in it. – That's a difficult question. It's not a difficult question for military reasons, it's a difficult question for political reasons – he replied.

– I will not hesitate to make such a decision to shoot down an object regardless of which country the object is from – he said.