Early in the morning on February 17, Polish border guards closed the Dołhobyczów checkpoint after discovering a grenade without a fuse in the possession of an Estonian citizen. Nineteen people were evacuated, cross-border traffic was completely suspended, and an investigation into the circumstances of the incident has been launched.

According to the Polish radio station RMF24, the alert was triggered around 05:00 local time. The munition was discovered during a standard inspection at the entrance to Poland. The Border Guard confirmed that the item was a hand grenade lacking a firing mechanism. An official statement noted: "The object was seized; there was no immediate threat of explosion, however, standard safety procedures were applied."

The checkpoint building was fully evacuated, including 19 employees and civilians. Traffic through the crossing was halted in both directions. According to the Nadbużański Division of the Polish Border Guard, "the decision for a temporary closure was made pending the completion of the site inspection and procedural actions."

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Growing Trends in Border Seizures

According to Narva News, dozens of cases involving WWII-era munitions and illegally transported items are recorded at EU border points annually. In 2023, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board identified 47 units of ammunition at the border, compared to 29 in 2021—a 62% increase.

Narva News previously noted that in the border zones of Estonia and Poland, such finds are most often linked to "private transportation and ignorance of storage rules." A publication from May 12, 2024, cited an Estonian Ministry of the Interior estimate that "approximately 70% of seized munitions are not in a combat-ready state."

European Statistics and Dynamics

European data confirms this upward trend. According to Europol, 367 cases of explosive devices or their components were recorded at the EU's external borders in 2022, an 18% increase compared to 2019.

A comparison of dynamics shows that the number of incidents at border crossings has risen since 2022 amid tightened controls and increased traffic flows:

• Poland: Increased from 112 cases of dangerous item discoveries in 2021 to 168 in 2024 (according to the General Headquarters of the Border Guard).

Legal Status of the Incident

In an official statement, Polish border guards indicated that the Estonian citizen has been detained to determine the origin of the munition. The criminal classification of the act will depend on the results of the forensic examination and the owner's explanation.

Previously, on September 9, 2023, Captain Danuta Chwalska, spokesperson for the Nadbużański Division of the Polish Border Guard, stated regarding a similar case: "Regardless of the condition of the ammunition, its transportation across the border without a permit is treated as an offense."