Border Defence Movement

Border Defence Movement
Ruch Obrony Granic
Other nameROG
Leader
Robert Bąkiewicz
Founded27 March 2025
CountryPoland
Active regionsWestern Borderlands
IdeologyFar-right
Political positionAnti-immigration
Size7,000
Websiteruchobronygranic.pl

The Border Defence Movement (Polish: Ruch Obrony Granic, ROG) is a vigilante movement, which has also been described as a paramilitary group, founded and led by Robert Bąkiewicz created to defend Poland from the perceived threat of illegal immigration from Germany. It organises citizens' patrols along the Germany–Poland border.

Overview

Activists marching in Praga-Północ display the ROG's logo on their clothing, 2026

The ROG was founded on 27 March 2025 by former Independence March leader Robert Bąkiewicz. As of July 2025, the ROG has about 7,000 members. The organisation is modelled on far-right vigilante groups operating on the Mexico–United States border. The ROG also has links to the Hungarian neo-Nazi Our Homeland Movement. The Movement organizes citizens' patrols across Poland's borders, but proclaims that it is not an enemy of the Border Guard (SG).

Per a 2025 poll by Opinia 24, the ROG has the highest percentage of support amongst men who vote for Confederation Liberty and Independence(61%) and Law and Justice (55%). 54% of respondents supported the Movement, with 30% deeming it decisively good and 24% a rather good initiative, with 34% being against. The Polish news magazine Polityka has described the ROG as a paramilitary organisation and refuted the group's stated intention of stopping mass-migration across the border with Poland. The magazine claimed that in 2024 just 10,000 people were transferred back to Poland from Germany across the border. However, research published by the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) stated that in 2024, 688 migrants were repatriated to Poland from Germany whilst a further 9,369 migrants were refused entry into Germany from Poland. The figures cited were largely made up of Ukrainian nationals. The DFRLab has described the ROG as part of a broader online misinformation campaign designed to radicalise people into far-right beliefs.

The ROG's founder Bąkiewicz, has faced prosecution under Polish law for an incident in which he insulted officials of the SG in the border town of Słubice. He was also charged with defamation and inciting racial hatred.

References

  1. 1 2 "Defenders of Poland's Borders Meet in the Sejm". 10 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "Sprzeciw wobec wwożenia imigrantów z Niemiec. Rusza Ruch Obrony Granic". 27 March 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Bąkiewicz: Budujemy Ruch Obrony Granic, by bronić Polski przed nielegalną imigracją". 8 April 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ↑ Smith, Martin (25 July 2025). "Poland's far right targets refugees". Searchlight.
  5. ↑ ""Patrole obywatelskie" przy granicy. Siemoniak: Policja i SG będą działać twardo". 7 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Nodzyńska, Paulina (17 July 2025). "Opinia 24: Ponad połowa Polaków popiera obywatelskie patrole na granicy z Niemcami". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Mazzini, Mateusz (1 July 2025). "Nowe bojówki Bąkiewicza w stylu MAGA. Czym jest Ruch Obrony Granic i po co im "kosy na sztorc"?". Polityka. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Gigitashvili, Givi; Gelava, Sopo (11 February 2026). "Inauthentic networks fuel Poland's border vigilante movement". DFRLab. Atlantic Council.
  9. ↑ Tilles, Daniel (2 January 2026). "Leader of movement "defending Polish border" from German migrant transfers to stand trial". Notes from Poland.

See also