Operation Horizon: Government Mobilizes 10,000 Soldiers and Calls for Citizen Vigilance
Official: The Army Leaves the Barracks
This is no longer media speculation, but an official state strategy. Details regarding Operation Horizon (Operacja Horyzont), which is intended to be the response to the growing threat of sabotage, have appeared on government websites. As confirmed by the Ministry of National Defense, up to 10,000 soldiers from all branches of the Armed Forces will be involved in these activities.
This operation is a natural consequence and expansion of previous actions, such as "Safe Podlasie" (Bezpieczne Podlasie), "Eastern Aurora," and "Eastern Sentry." This time, however, the scale and objective are much broader—it concerns the physical protection of critical infrastructure, including key railway routes.
A United Front: Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry
The decision to launch the operation was made at the highest level. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, together with Minister of the Interior Marcin Kierwiński and the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, clearly defined the goal: military support for the services subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA).
The situation requires decisive steps. As stated in the government communiqué, the priority is to counter acts of sabotage and diversion, as well as to limit the freedom of movement of potential perpetrators. The government is allocating record funds in history for security, which is expected to translate into real operational capabilities in the field.
"Citizen Activation" – You Are Also Part of the System
Interestingly, the government strategy does not rely solely on uniforms. The official messaging includes the term "citizen activation." Authorities are directly encouraging closer observation of one's immediate surroundings and the reporting of situations that may cause concern.
The goal is to introduce tools for society that make the actions of hostile services "unprofitable" and difficult to execute. It is in this context that the announced mobile application fits—a new tool intended to revolutionize the way citizens can cooperate with security services.
MON Application: Your Smartphone as a National Defense Tool
The Ministry of National Defense is working on a dedicated mobile application that is to serve as a direct link between citizens and the services responsible for security. According to Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, work on the software has been ongoing "for a good few weeks," and the project is already at an advanced stage.
How will the app work?
The new application has been designed with maximum simplicity of use in mind. It aims to eliminate the main problem currently faced by citizens trying to report suspicious activities—difficulties in pinpointing the exact location of an incident.
Key features of the application include:
- Automatic transmission of geolocation data – the app will determine and transmit the user's exact GPS position to the services on its own.
- Ability to take and send a photo of an object or situation aimed at causing concern.
- "Map Pin" function – working similarly to messenger apps, allowing for the precise indication of a threat location.
- Immediate transfer of the report to the appropriate services.
As Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized during the press conference:
"It will be helpful in every situation. We will be able to use the actions of the cyber-forces to quickly and effectively report and show things. This is also about building a strong society that sees a threat and informs. It has prudence, but no fear. Because fear is the main goal of our adversaries."
When will the app be available?
According to the announced schedule:
- Turn of November and December 2025 – launch of a test version for a limited group of users.
- Mid-December 2025 – planned release of the application for all citizens.
Beta tests aim to verify the system's operation in practice and potentially refine the interface before mass implementation.
Real-Time Response
Importantly, authorities assure that reports submitted through the app will be treated with full seriousness. In the event of detecting real, suspicious activity, services are to react in immediate mode.
This is particularly important in the context of the upcoming Christmas holidays, when thousands of Poles will be traveling by rail and bus. As Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz noted, the early dusk at this time of year can provide "natural cover for sabotage groups" acting on behalf of foreign services.
Why Now? The Context of the Threat
Let us recall that this mobilization is a reaction to specific incidents. In recent months, services have thwarted attempts to derail trains using steel clamps and planted explosives. Perpetrators, acting on orders from foreign services, tried to cause land traffic disasters.
These unprecedented cases forced an intensification of actions and closer cooperation between services subordinate to both the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the Polish Armed Forces, with particular emphasis on the Territorial Defense Forces.
Hybrid Defense Model: Uniforms + Apps
Operation Horizon connects two worlds: hard military power (10,000 soldiers patrolling critical infrastructure) and the "soft" power of civil society equipped with smartphones and a dedicated app for reporting threats.
This innovative approach assumes that every citizen can become the eyes and ears of the services—not out of paranoia, but out of responsibility for common safety. The application is intended to make this engagement not only possible but also extremely simple: a few clicks on a phone can trigger a response from services and potentially prevent an act of sabotage.
During the press conference, Minister Kierwiński emphasized the importance of cooperation:
"This is another operation intended to show that police officers, guards, firefighters, and soldiers will work shoulder to shoulder. Without this joint operation, we would not have achieved over 98% effectiveness in preventing illegal border crossings. Infrastructure is essential, but without the cooperation of people, it would not be possible."
Next year, the government has record funds at its disposal—200 billion PLN for security. This translates not only into equipment and training but also into innovative technological solutions combining the potential of the military with social engagement.
Will this hybrid defense model pass the test? We will know the first answers in December when the application reaches the hands of the first users. One thing is certain: in the face of growing hybrid threats, Poland is trying to respond with hybrid defense.
Author: Aleksander
Sources:
About the Author
Dyrektor ds. Technologii w SecurHub.pl
Doktorant z zakresu neuronauki poznawczej. Psycholog i ekspert IT specjalizujący się w cyberbezpieczeństwie.
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