Poland is considering overhauling its military reserve force amid concerns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spread to NATO.
Warsaw’s defense ministry said it is convinced that the potential war would “be long and bloody,” highlighting the importance of a large reserve force to defend the country.
Under the planned reform, around 150,000 people under the age of 55 would be recruited as active military reservists by 2039.
They would be attached to specific units and undergo regular training to update their skills.
“We want to shift the focus from a ‘passive reserve’ to an active reserve that is constantly in touch with specific units, participating in their daily routine,” Poland’s Chief of the General Staff Wiesław Kukuła said.
To accommodate the target number of reservists, the defense ministry vows to ensure equipment availability and improved quality of training.
Greater Role
Earlier this year, a leaked German military document claimed that Russia may attack a NATO member state after its invasion of Ukraine.
The claim was further fueled by Moscow’s ongoing mobilization, continual troop movements, and missile deployments in the west.
Another classified report suggested that signs point to Russian President Vladimir Putin preparing his military to invade a NATO country by 2026.
By then, the nation may have doubled its military strength.
Poland’s reserve force initiative reflects its acknowledgment of the greater role these volunteers will play in national security.
“Most of the regular military will not see its end,” Kukula said, pertaining to a potential war. “It will be ended by the reservists.”
