Illegal immigrants on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland threw makeshift spears at Polish border guards through a steel fence. Several were injured in the attack and 21-year-old Sgt Mateusz Sitek from the Nowy Lubiel was killed.

According to The Telegraph, Polish officials believe that illegal immigrants are coming to the European Union through Belarus with the help of Russia. The outlet reported that three years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin began weaponizing illegal immigration by working with travel agents in the Middle East to bring illegal immigrants to the EU.

The outlet reported that on the Finnish-Russian border, Russia has been giving out bicycles and scooters to illegal immigrants to help them cross. In Poland, the latest attack was the culmination of many skirmishes that have broken out between illegal immigrants and border guards.

On Wednesday, Cezary Tomczyk, Poland’s deputy defense minister said, “We are ready for any solution in this area because we will not allow this migration crisis caused by Belarus to last indefinitely.”

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski previously said Poland was considering a complete closure of the border. General Wieslaw Kukula said during a press conference that Poland needs “to prepare our forces for full-scale conflict, not an asymmetric-type conflict.”

Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda added that by August, the number of troops guarding Poland’s eastern border would be increased to 8,000 from the current 6,000. An additional 9,000 would be able to be deployed with 48 hours notice.