They were already preparing
https://www.ft.com/content/bbce0959-f65e-44a4-87c1-438bddcfbd10
"The one-day programme was launched last month and is run by 17 military units across Poland. Pakieła, who has two children, heard about it on social media and applied because “I’m scared of the times that we’re living in and I want to be able to protect my family.” She is not alone. Some 1,500 people tried to book a spot for her session, which was limited to 100 participants aged between 18 and 65. As the fighting in Ukraine continues and Poles worry about it spilling over into their homeland, army officers said the programme, which was due to end later this month, is likely to be extended to meet demand. Poland has increased its spending on defence and has been in the vanguard of western support for Ukraine. Eight months ago it was among the first nations to send weapons to Kyiv, while also welcoming millions of Ukrainian refugees. Since then, it has served as a transport and logistics hub for Nato and EU shipments and has agreed to host for the first time a permanent US army base.
‘I want to protect my family’: Polish civilians flock to army training
One-day programme for civilians reflects Warsaw’s renewed focus on defence following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine"https://www.ft.com/content/bbce0959-f65e-44a4-87c1-438bddcfbd10
"The one-day programme was launched last month and is run by 17 military units across Poland. Pakieła, who has two children, heard about it on social media and applied because “I’m scared of the times that we’re living in and I want to be able to protect my family.” She is not alone. Some 1,500 people tried to book a spot for her session, which was limited to 100 participants aged between 18 and 65. As the fighting in Ukraine continues and Poles worry about it spilling over into their homeland, army officers said the programme, which was due to end later this month, is likely to be extended to meet demand. Poland has increased its spending on defence and has been in the vanguard of western support for Ukraine. Eight months ago it was among the first nations to send weapons to Kyiv, while also welcoming millions of Ukrainian refugees. Since then, it has served as a transport and logistics hub for Nato and EU shipments and has agreed to host for the first time a permanent US army base.
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