IRIA News

Poland held its largest military parade since the Cold War on August 15, 2023. The military parade was arranged to celebrate Warsaw’s victory over the Soviet Union’s Red Army in 1920.

Poland’s Defense Ministry said that the parade was organized to celebrate the Polish Army Day. It involved more than 200 units of Polish and foreign military equipment, 92 aircraft, and 2,000 service members.

The parade showcased some of the latest weapons that Poland has acquired for its arsenal, including the U.S.-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, South Korean K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS rocket launchers, Krab self-propelled howitzers, as well as U.S.-made Patriot missile batteries systems, which are part of the Polish “WISLA” air defense system.

Polish Air Force showcased its F-16 multi-role combat aircraft and its newly acquired South Korean FA-50 fighter jets. The parade also featured U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets, as well as Apache Black Hawk helicopters, AW-101, AW-149, C-295M CASA, Gulfstream G550, M-346 BIELIK, EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, and drones. Polish-made equipment including Krab tracked gun howitzers and Rosomak armored transporters was also featured.

Minister @mblaszczak #GośćWiadomości: chcemy dziś podziękować żołnierzom za ich codzienną służbę, szczególnie tu na granicy. Dzisiejsza defilada pokazała także, że z roku na rok #WojskoPolskie jest silniejsze. A siłą biało-czerwonej jest właśnie #WojskoPolskie. pic.twitter.com/kr9At3yrR7

— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) August 15, 2023

The armed forces of NATO member country marked the 103rd anniversary of Poland’s triumph over the Red Army during the Battle of Warsaw, in which the Polish troops defied the Bolshevik force’s advances on Europe.

This is the first time that Warsaw has arranged a military parade at such a scale, largely due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Warsaw seeks to use the showcasing event as a way to deter the Russian and Belarusian forces from attacking its borders. Poland has emerged as Europe’s largest military spender and one of the leading military powers, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The defense of our eastern border, the border of the European Union and of NATO is today a key element of Poland’s state interest,” Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, the chief commander of the armed forces, said in his opening speech at the event.

Today, the Grand Parade of the 🇵🇱 Armed Forces returns to #Warsaw. This is a chance to see first-hand the latest equipment and personally express our gratitude to the soldiers. In addition, for the first time, led by 🇵🇱 crews #Abrams tanks will pass along the Vistula River. pic.twitter.com/OiFwnXtshL

— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) August 15, 2023

“The goal of this huge modernization is to equip Poland’s armed forces and create such a defense system that no one ever dares attack us, that Polish soldiers will never need to fight,” Duda said while voicing his respect for the military.

“August 15 is not only an opportunity to pay homage to the heroes of the victorious Battle of Warsaw and to thank contemporary soldiers for defending our homeland,” Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said in his speech. “It is also a perfect day to show our strength, to show that we have built powerful armed forces that will effectively defend our borders without hesitation,” he said.

Poland shares borders not just with Ukraine and Belarus, but also with Russia’s semi-exclave of Kaliningrad. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Warsaw has ramped up its military acquisitions while supplying crucial weapons to Ukraine for its defense. Poland has also signed multi-billion dollars deals with the U.S., South Korea, and other countries to acquire new tanks, missiles, and fighter jets.

Poland has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine after Moscow’s invasion. The European country has created a tank coalition and actively participating in arranging fighter jets for Ukraine. Poland has also provided Ukraine with missiles, drones, tanks, ammunition, and humanitarian aid, as well as called for additional international sanctions against Russia.

Last week, Poland announced its plans to deploy up to 10,000 additional soldiers to the Belarus border to support the border guard forces amid growing threats from Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in Belarus. Poland is increasingly concerned about the border crossing issue as Belarus conducted military exercises near the border with Poland. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that he was restraining Wagner mercenaries who want to attack Poland. Russia’s Wagner group fighters arrived in Belarus last month at the invitation of the Belarusian president.