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Bialowieza Wilderness In Poland Cut By Border Barrier

The physical steel barrier between Poland and Belarus is seen in the middle of Bialowieza Forest on July 1, 2022 in Bialowieza, Poland. The Polish government decided to build a 186 kilometers long and 5.5 meter high steel barrier with barbed wire on the Polish - Belarus border, which is as well the border of the European Union and NATO. The decision was made after thousands of migrants, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan tried to cross into Poland from Belarus. Part of the barrier passes through Bialowieza forest. The decision was highly controversial as Bialowieza wilderness is one of the very few remaining primeval forests and the barrier will destroy natural habitats of endangered animal species. The government of Belarus was accused of orchestrating the migration, with help from Russia. The pressure on the Polish border is today seen as the first step of a larger plan of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, to destabilise the European Union. (Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#8480394
Date Taken	1 July 2022
Location	N/A
Photographer	Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto

Belarus Europe European Union NATO Poland Russia animals attack barrier block border border guard conflict countryside crossing east flank enclave environment forest geopolitics guard heritage hybrid war impact landscape metal migrants national park natural forest nature passage people policy push back refugees road safe haven safety sanctuary security steel stop threat transport treasure wall war way wild animals wilderness 5.5 meter high steel barrier Polish - Belarus border remaining primeval forests endangered animal species physical steel barrier Polish border Polish government 186 kilometers long barbed wire European Union natural habitats first step larger plan Vladimir Putin Russian president Bialowieza Forest Bialowieza wilderness Poland middle July NATO decision thousands migrants Syria Iraq Afghanistan Part migration help pressure Photo