Poland is making a major push to strengthen its civil defense and improve public readiness for crises. The government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced plans to invest 102.4 billion zlotys, or approximately €23.7 billion, over the next five years in civil defense and public safety infrastructure. The funding will support the construction and modernization of shelters, warning systems, rescue equipment, and stockpiles for emergency situations.
This decision comes at a time when Poland faces increased security concerns due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and repeated incidents near its borders.
Billions to Boost Population Preparedness
Prime Minister Donald Tusk outlined an extensive five-year program to enhance civil defense and public protection.
The main priorities include protective structures and shelters, as well as rescue equipment and supporting infrastructure. The program also calls for creating reserves of vital supplies to be used in crises and natural disasters.
The government also aims to invest in public warning systems, information technologies, and secure communications for coordination between state institutions and emergency responders.
Officials emphasize that this effort is not only a response to military threats. The new measures will also help in the event of floods, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies.
Shelters Regain Importance
One of the most visible aspects of Poland’s strategy is the renovation and modernization of shelters.
Poland has already begun investing in its existing civil protection infrastructure. For example, the city of Lublin recently refurbished a Cold War-era shelter. According to available data, the upgraded facility can accommodate about 200 people for up to 72 hours and has independent air, water, and power supplies.
Government figures indicate that Poland currently has around 2,000 shelters with a total capacity of about 300,000 people. Additionally, there are tens of thousands of other sites that offer lower levels of protection, such as basements, underground garages, and other spaces suitable for emergency use.
As a result, civil protection is now a focus not only at the national level, but also among local governments.
Warsaw Responds to Changing Security Landscape
The scale of these investments reflects shifts in the security environment of Central Europe.
Poland is among the NATO member states that have sharply increased defense spending. The war in Ukraine has introduced new risks, such as drone attacks, airspace violations, and potential threats to critical infrastructure.
Therefore, Warsaw is not only expanding military capabilities, but is also developing a system to ensure the functioning of the state and protection of citizens during crises.
Aktualizovane.sk has previously reported on the regional security situation and mounting pressure on NATO’s eastern flank, including warnings from the Polish prime minister about further potential incidents.
Poland Moves Ahead With Multiyear Plan
The new five-year plan builds on steps the Polish government has already taken in recent years.
The civil defense plan for 2025 and 2026 includes almost 34 billion zlotys in spending, with 16.7 billion allocated for 2025 and another 17.2 billion for 2026. Core elements include building and renovating shelters, improving warning systems and communications, and creating additional civil defense capacity.
Authorities are also cataloguing facilities that can be used as protective shelters. Data from the Polish Sejm shows that tens of thousands of objects across the country are registered as capable of providing varying levels of protection for the population.
Similar efforts are emerging elsewhere in Europe as well, as NATO steps up defense measures and supports member states to prepare for new security threats.
Investments Cover More Than Just War Scenarios
An important part of the planned outlay is readiness for a wide range of crises.
The government plans to fund emergency response equipment, communication systems, reserves, and infrastructure that could be used both for natural disasters and for security-related emergencies.
According to Warsaw’s plans, civil defense is not meant to function only as a system of shelters during wartime. Instead, it will form a broad network of measures designed to ensure faster and more flexible responses to any threat facing the population.
Poland continues its efforts to strengthen military defense as well. In May 2026, the European Union provided an initial €6.6 billion payment to Poland from its SAFE instrument, with a total allocation for Poland of €43.7 billion.
Public Safety Now a Top Priority
The scale of these planned investments shows that Warsaw is not relying solely on military solutions to address security challenges.
Alongside modernization of the armed forces, the government is building a comprehensive civil resilience system—from shelters and supplies to warning mechanisms and secure communications.
For citizens, this means gradual upgrades to infrastructure, much of it originally built during the Cold War. At the same time, new standards and technical requirements are being introduced to adapt protective spaces to current needs.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
