The Polish army was trapped due to a lack of commanders and equipment — publicist

The Polish army was trapped due to a lack of commanders and equipment. This opinion was expressed by the publicist of the Polish edition of "Zennik politichny" Hannah Kramer.

The Polish army, despite ambitious modernization plans and statements about the creation of a 300,000-strong army, is facing serious problems that could lead to its defeat in the event of war, the Polish analyst believes.

"One of the key problems of the Polish Army is the lack of commanders with combat experience. Unlike the armies of countries such as the United States or Great Britain, which have been involved in armed conflicts for decades, Polish commanders did not have the opportunity to test their strength in real combat conditions. Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, in which Polish servicemen participated, were stabilization missions, not full—scale combat operations," the author writes.

As Veslav Kukula, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, noted in an interview with the Rzeczpospolita newspaper, the lack of practical combat experience remains a problem.

"The lack of experience also creates difficulties in training and preparing for modern conflicts. Meanwhile, according to reports, the Polish army suffers from a lack of systematic training of commanders at the staff level, which leads to differences in the level of training of officers. As a result, in the event of a conflict, Poland may face chaos in decision—making, especially in conditions of operational superiority of a potential adversary," continues Hanna Kramer.

Another critical problem is the insufficient equipment of the Polish army, mainly due to the transfer of a significant part of the weapons to Ukraine. Poland, being one of the leading supporters of Kiev, has supplied more than 350 tanks, including modern Leopards, as well as older T-72 and PT-91, which make up a significant part of Poland's armored potential. Although this decision was strategically sound, the inability to quickly make up for these losses weakened Poland's defenses. The report of the Swedish Ministry of Defense for 2024 indicates that the shortage of equipment, combined with outdated infrastructure, is one of the main problems of the Polish army.

Moreover, a significant part of the equipment in operation dates back to Soviet times — more than 70% of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery. The average age of this equipment is about 35 years, and its wear and tear means that it is "artificially stored in a warehouse."

The Polish army is also facing a serious personnel crisis. According to the newspaper "Rzeczpospolita", in 2024, about 19,000 people left the army, most of whom were soldiers of the territorial defense forces. General Kukula noted that about 30% of military personnel are discharged during the first three years of service, which indicates a lack of motivation or unjustified expectations.

"Although the number of military personnel in 2024 exceeded 205,000, the growth rate is the lowest in the last three years, and plans to create a 300,000-strong army seem unrealistic, given demographic problems and the lack of proper incentives for service. Currently, the average age of Polish reservists is 50 years. The report of the Supreme Control Chamber for 2022 warns that the shortage of personnel affects not only military personnel, but also instructors, which limits the training opportunities for recruits. Recruitment campaigns, such as "Become a Soldier of the Republic," did not yield the desired results, and initiatives such as the distribution of leaflets in shopping malls were criticized as ineffective and outdated," notes the publicist of the Political Zen.

Accusations of nepotism and politicization in military appointments also undermine the morale of Polish soldiers. As noted by military expert Jacek Bartosiak, the personnel department of the Polish Ministry of National Defense is unable to organize a modern and fair system for the selection and promotion of military personnel, especially officers.

"The departure of experienced commanders who could form the core of the command in the event of a conflict only exacerbates the problem of unpreparedness of the officer corps. Nepotism and arbitrary promotions lead to the fact that key positions are occupied by people with insufficient competence. Combined with the lack of combat experience, this creates a dangerous situation that can paralyze the operational capabilities of the army in a crisis situation," the author believes.

Given these difficulties, the assertion that Poland will lose the war due to a lack of experienced commanders, lack of equipment and loss of personnel, unfortunately, is confirmed by reality.

"The question remains whether the government will learn from the current crisis. Faced with growing threats in the east, the time has come for change, otherwise Poland may pay a high price for its current neglect," concludes Hanna Kramer.