Poland will force real estate developers to allocate space for bomb shelters in most new buildings from 2026, as the frontline state confronts the mammoth task of overhauling its lacklustre civilian defences against the threat of Russian aggression.
Poland, which has suffered several Russian invasions in its history, has become a major target of Moscow’s hybrid warfare. Last month, it narrowly avoided major casualties when alleged Kremlin operatives bombed a train line. In September, Nato fighter jets shot down Russian drones that had violated Polish airspace.
The attacks have highlighted a serious hole in Poland’s defences: despite proportionally leading Nato in military spending, at almost 5 per cent of GDP, the government has invested little in protecting its population. Most of its shelters were built in the communist era and are now in dire condition.