Russia and Belarus began joint military exercises on the Belarusian border yesterday against the backdrop of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The drills, named Union Resolve 2022, are due to take place at training grounds in Belarus until February 20, according to reports by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Announcing the maneuvers, Belarus’ strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko said they would be held in the west and south of the country and had been planned in December with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Experts say the joint military drills are designed to up the pressure on Ukrainian authorities and, in the worst-case scenario, mount an attack from Belarusian soil.
Asked in an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio if the army was on “heightened combat alert” due to the Russian-Belarusian exercises, Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said that “the Polish military is looking after the security of our homeland” and is “aware of the threats.”
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk, PAP
The European Commission on Thursday raised its forecast for Polish economic growth this year to 5.5 percent, up from its previous projection of 5.2 percent.
The EU executive also upgraded its 2021 GDP growth estimate for Poland, saying the country’s economy expanded by 5.7 percent last year.
The Polish national budget for 2022, which was signed into law by President Andrzej Duda earlier this month, is based on growth predictions of 4.6 percent.
Predictions for 2023 show the Polish economy cooling somewhat over the next two years, with the European Commission downgrading its 2023 growth estimate to 4.2 from its previous forecast of 4.4 percent.
Source: Radio Poland
Residents of Puck celebrated the 102nd anniversary of Poland’s “Wedding to the Sea” at the Port of Puck yesterday, with additional events scheduled around Pomerania today.
During the original ceremony in 1920, General Józef Haller took one of two platinum rings given to him by citizens of the Free City of Danzig and cast it into the sea. The event symbolized Poland’s reunification with the Baltic Sea after 123 years of partitions.
The main anniversary celebrations took place in the Port of Puck, where Deputy of the Pomeranian Voivode, Mariusz Łuczyk, read congratulatory letters from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Marshal of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek.
In her letter, Witek described the “exceptionally significant event” as “one of the symbols of shaping the reborn Republic of Poland, and at the same time the centuries-old Polish presence on the Baltic Sea.”
Celebrations continue today in Władysławowo, where residents will play the role of Kashubians, politicians, artists, soldiers, and General Józef Haller himself. Historically, Haller departed the day after the celebrations in Puck aboard the cutter “Seestern” or “Star of the Sea” owned by Jakub Myślisz.
Gdańsk residents also have the unique opportunity to view the work of Julian Fałat, a watercolor artist who was an eyewitness to the actual event. The painting, “Zaślubiny z morzem,” along with other historical artifacts, can be viewed in the Maritime Gallery of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Dziennik Bałtycki, wladyslawowo.pl
The Polish postal service has issued a new stamp to commemorate the 2022 Winter Olympics and payhomage to the sport of ski jumping.
The stamp, designed by artist Jan Konarzewski, features a symbolic ski trail in the snow next to the logo of the Polish Olympic Committee. According to Poczta Polska deputy CEO Wiesław Włodek, the stamp’s “main symbolic focus is on ski jumping, the most popular winter sport among Polish fans.”
In addition to the stamp, Poczta Polska issued an envelope with symbolic images of the seven gold medals Polish athletes have won throughout the history of the Winter Olympic Games.
Fifty years ago, ski jumper Wojciech Fortuna won Poland’s first Winter Olympic gold medal at the 1972 Sapporo Games. Three more Olympic ski jumping golds were later added courtesy of three-time champion Kamil Stoch.
Stoch and fellow teammates Piotr Żyła, Dawid Kubacki, and Pawel Wąsek will be competing in Beijing today in the Qualification Round of the Men’s Large Hill individual event.
More information on upcoming Olympic events can be found on the Team Poland section of the official Olympics 2022 website.
Source: Radio Poland, Olympics.com
Weather
Today will be cloudy and cold, with a strong breeze coming in from the west and a good chance of rain throughout the afternoon. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a high around 5°C, or 41°F, dropping below freezing to an overnight low of -2°C or 29°F. Slightly warmer temps are expected tomorrow, with a chance for some sunshine over the weekend.
Elizabeth Peck
