Major Arkadiusz Szczęsny (KO Nowogrodziec and Zgorzelec) is an experienced former military pilot with more than 2,100 hours in the air. He regularly appears on Agnieszka Gozdyra’s program, where he comments on key events related to the Polish Armed Forces and national security.

In the October 5, 2026 edition, he appeared together with Colonel Krzysztof Przepiórka, a former GROM operator. The discussion focused on the need to restore universal military training. We also asked him how he assesses the preparedness of Polish men and women for armed conflict.

A 300,000-strong army will not protect every citizen

The main demand of Major Szczęsny was the return of compulsory military service. As he emphasized, even a large and modern army will not be able to ensure the safety of all citizens during wartime.

“Even well-armed and well-trained armed forces of 300,000 personnel cannot take care of every citizen,” says Major Arkadiusz Szczęsny. “A compulsory form of effective training is needed for Polish women and men in the use of weapons, practical first aid, recognizing contamination and other hazards, survival skills in difficult conditions during a real armed conflict in cities and outside them, and even organizing local communities for joint survival using local resources.”

According to the military officer, now is the time to prepare the entire nation for a potential armed conflict with Russia—in every possible form and according to every possible scenario.

Poland must prepare for war with Russia. Chaos threatens us

Major Szczęsny warned that a future war would begin with an attack on the country’s critical infrastructure. Without basic knowledge, society would be helpless.

“We must all realize that such a conflict entails the immediate destruction by the enemy of critical and strategically most important infrastructure,” he explains. “This means communications being reduced practically to zero, no access to the internet or information, and the destruction of airport, road, rail, heating and energy infrastructure. It also means many other threats for which we must prepare so that Polish families can survive. Without this basic knowledge, chaos and serious danger await us.”

Distorted patriotism weakens Poland’s security

On the Polsat News program, the retired major also critically assessed the condition of Polish patriotism, especially among young people. In his view, manipulating public awareness has weakened patriotic values.

“Manipulating the awareness of Polish women and men through media messaging, information and the education of our children and young people directed by right-wing hatred, widespread lies in the public sphere and politicians’ desire to possess absolute power have weakened, and indeed distorted, patriotic values,” argues Major Arkadiusz Szczęsny. “All of this will have a very negative impact on state security in view of the approaching crisis in relations with Russia.”

The oath to the homeland lasts a lifetime

“Everyone who has taken an oath to the nation and homeland in the past carries genuine patriotism and devotion to the homeland in their genes, without coercion,” the military officer adds. “That is why I believe that one is a soldier of the Polish Armed Forces, a police officer, a Border Guard officer or a member of another service from the moment the oath is taken until the end of one’s life. The current crisis of patriotic awareness results from a low level of education and, consequently, a lack of reliable knowledge about real threats. As a reserve officer of the Polish Armed Forces, I am deeply concerned that patriotism is now identified with combining the national emblem and flag with a baseball bat, the symbol of the falanga, or a flare burned during the Independence March. Patriotism, meanwhile, means entirely different values.” In conclusion, the military officer appealed: “Let us be aware of the danger and test of our real abilities approaching for the Nation and the Homeland. Let us learn to deal reliably with threats so that we can simply survive.”