Recruit Damian Krasnodebski, 27, an architect, looks on during a swearing-in ceremony after his 16-day basic training for Poland's Territorial Defence Forces, in Bialystok, Poland, December 16, 2017. Faith in ideals and willingness to serve his country made Krasnodebski want to join the territorial army. "It is so important that you believe in some ideals to do something for your country," he said. "NATO is an old alliance. Hopefully, they will never have to show how it works in practice. I think you have to rely on yourself, on your own strength." REUTERS/Kacper Pempel SEARCH "POLAND MILITARY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Town hall clerk Monika Pawlik, 24, marches at a parade after being sworn in as a territorial soldier in Bialystok, Poland, December 16, 2017. When Pawlik was doing her training, she says, she learned how to fire weapons and was surprised to find she was no weaker than the men. She wants to be a professional soldier. "If I go for something, I take it to the end," she said. "But I'm not doing it all for myself. I'm also doing this for the baby." REUTERS/Kacper Pempel SEARCH "POLAND MILITARY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Recruits are sworn in as territorial soldiers in Bialystok, Poland, December 16, 2017. Nearly 15,000 Poles have joined the country's volunteer forces since the territorial army's inception in 2017. A volunteer formation requires recruits to spend four months over three years in training. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel SEARCH "POLAND MILITARY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Town hall clerk Monika Pawlik is seen during a swearing-in ceremony for Poland's territorial army in Bialystok, Poland December 16, 2017. Picture taken December 16, 2017. To match Special Report POLAND-NATIONALISM/ REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Town hall clerk Monika Pawlik (L) is seen during a swearing-in ceremony for Poland's territorial army in Bialystok, Poland December 16, 2017. Picture taken December 16, 2017. To match Special Report POLAND-NATIONALISM/ REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Supporters hold flags as they arrive at an election rally for Law and Justice presidential candidate Jarolaw Kaczynski in Bialystok July 01, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Supporters take part in a Law and Justice Party (PiS) presidential candidate Jarolaw Kaczynski's election rally in Bialystok, eastern Poland July 1, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Law and Justice Party (PiS) presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski smiles as he speaks during an election rally in Bialystok, eastern Poland July 1, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Supporters wave flags as they take part in Law and Justice Party (PiS) presidential candidate Jarolaw Kaczynski's election rally in Bialystok, eastern Poland July 1, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Law and Justice Party (PiS) presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski gestures as he speaks during an election rally in Bialystok, eastern Poland July 1, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Supporters hold posters and wave flags as they attend an election rally of Law and Justice (PiS) presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski in Bialystok, eastern Poland July 1, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Law and Justice Party (PiS) presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski gestures as he speaks during an election rally in Bialystok, eastern Poland July 1, 2010. Poles will choose between two conservative candidates with contrasting views on market reforms, the euro currency and Poland's place in the European Union in Sunday's presidential election run-off. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Michal Androsiuk, head of programming at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, reads the news at the station in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

Michal Androsiuk, head of programming at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, reads the news at the station in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

Sergej Pratusevich, a music editor at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, works at the station in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

Alexander Burakou, a journalist at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, works at the station in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

A man passes the entrance to the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth), which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

Alexander Burakou, a journalist at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, gestures at the station in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

Larysa Bukhalenka, a correspondent at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, gestures at their office in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

A picture of Belarusian author Wasil Bykav hangs next to a Belarusian flag at the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth), which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

Wiktor Stachwiuk (R), head of the Belarusian radio station "Radio Racja" (Radio truth) which broadcasts independent news to Belarus from Poland, gestures at the office in Bialystok, eastern Poland December 20, 2006. To match feature POLAND-BELARUS-RADIO/ REUTERS/Katarina Stoltz (POLAND)

A child cries as she drinks an iodine solution in Bialystok, Poland on May 1, 1986 to help combat the effects of radioactivity leaked from the Chernobyl power station in Soviet Union. The town had one of the highest radiation levels in Poland. REUTERS/Files