Polish soldier, Pawel Ordynski, killed in bomb blast

Polish Army Senior Private Pawel Ordynski was killed on 20th March 2013 during a mounted patrol in Ghazni.

He was part of a routine patrol north-west of the city when his vehicle struck a road mine.

29-year-old S/Pvt. Ordynski had previously deployed to the Balkans and to Afghanistan. He served with the 12th Mechanised Brigade as a driver, having joined the Army in 2004. This was his fourth mission to Afghanistan.

Another Polish soldier was seriously injured in the blast and was evacuated by helicopter to the Polish base in Ghazni.

More information to follow.

Polish Special Forces Captain Krzysztof Woźniak killed in action

Polish Commando Captain Krzysztof Woźniak was killed in action on 23rd January 2013 during an anti-terrorist operation in Ghazni province.

The 36-year-old father of three was part of a unit supporting Afghan security forces in the province. During the operation, the units came under heavy fire from enemy forces. Several Polish soldiers were wounded in the attack including Capt. Woźniak.

He was evacuated by helicopter to the Polish military hospital in Ghazni but could not be saved.

Capt. Woźniak, a member of Poland's Armed Forces since 1996, had deployed on several overseas operations during his career. This was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. was serving with Poland’s Elite Special Forces Unit (GROM).

Polish soldiers face second trial over Afghanistan killings

Four Polish soldiers previously acquitted of killing Afghan civilians in a war crimes trial in 2011 have gone on trial in Warsaw for a second time.

Eight people were killed in the Afghan village of Nangar Khel when Polish troops opened fire on a wedding party in August 2007.

Military prosecutors appealed after seven soldiers were cleared of war crimes in the 2011 trial for lack of evidence. The court upheld the acquittal of three but ordered a re-trial for the others, who insist they are innocent.

Click here for the full story at BBC.co.uk

Polish Army Warrant Officer Piotr Ciesielski

33-year-old Polish Army Jr Ensign (1st Warrant Officer) Piotr Ciesielski, was one of five Polish soldiers killed in action on 21st December 2011 when his vehicle was hit by a road bomb. He was in a joint Polish American convoy heading for Rawza, eastern Ghazni, when the attack happened.

He served with the 20 Mechanised Brigade Bartoszycka and had been in the Polish Army since 2005. This was his first overseas combat deployment.

WO Ciesielski, who leaves his wife and two daughters, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Junior Ensign (1st Warrant Officer).

The other soldiers killed were named as: Krystian Banach, Marek Tomala, Marcin Szczurowski and Lukasz Krawiec, all members of the 20th Mechanised Brigade.

Polish Army Sergeant Lukasz Krawiec

30-year-old Polish Army Sergeant Lukasz Krawiec, was one of five Polish soldiers killed in action on 21st December 2011 when his vehicle was hit by a road bomb. He was in a joint Polish American convoy heading for Rawza, eastern Ghazni, when the attack happened.

He served with the 20 Mechanised Brigade Bartoszycka and had been in the Polish Army since 2007. This was his second overseas combat deployment.

Sgt Szczurowski, a bachelor, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

The other soldiers killed were named as: Krystian Banach, Marek Tomala, Marcin Szczurowski and Piotr Ciesielski, all members of the 20th Mechanised Brigade.

Polish Army Sergeant Marcin Szczurowski

30-year-old Polish Army Sergeant Marcin Szczurowski, was one of five Polish soldiers killed in action on 21st December 2011 when his vehicle was hit by a road bomb. He was in a joint Polish American convoy heading for Rawza, eastern Ghazni, when the attack happened.

He served with the 20 Mechanised Brigade Bartoszycka and had been in the Polish Army since 2003. This was his first overseas combat deployment. 

Sgt Szczurowski, who leaves behind his wife and two daughters, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

The other soldiers killed were named as: Krystian Banach, Marek Tomala, Lukasz Krawiec and Piotr Ciesielski, all members of the 20th Mechanised Brigade.

Polish Army Sergeant Marek Tomala

25-year-old Polish Army Sergeant Marek Tomala was one of five Polish soldiers killed in action on 21st December 2011 when his vehicle was hit by a road bomb. He was in a joint Polish American convoy heading for Rawza, eastern Ghazni, when the attack happened.

He served with the 20 Mechanised Brigade Bartoszycka and had been in the Polish Army since 2006. This was his third combat deployment. Sgt Tomala, who leaves behind his wife and daughter, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

The other soldiers killed were named as: Krystian Banach, Marcin Szczurowski, Lukasz Krawiec and Piotr Ciesielski, all members of the 20th Mechanised Brigade.

Polish Army Sergeant Krystian Banach

22-year-old Polish Army Sergeant Krystian W Banach was one of five Polish soldiers killed in action on 21st December 2011 when his vehicle was hit by a road bomb. He was in a joint Polish American convoy heading for Rawza, eastern Ghazni, when the attack happened.

He served with the 20 Mechanised Brigade Bartoszycka and had been in the Polish Army since 2008. This was his first combat mission. Sgt Banach was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

The other soldiers killed were named as: Marek Tomala, Marcin Szczurowski, Lukasz Krawiec and Piotr Ciesielski, all members of the 20th Mechanised Brigade.

Lance Corporal Rafal Nowakowski

Polish Army Lance Corporal Rafal Nowakowski was killed in action on 4th October 2011 in Ghazni province when a bomb exploded beneath the armored vehicle he was in.

30-year-old L-Cpl. Nowakowski served as a rifleman with the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanised Brigade based at Międzyrzec. He had been in the Polish Army since 2003.

Two other soldiers were wounded and their condition has been described as “stable”.

Polish soldier, Pawel Staniaszek

Polish Army Private First Class, Pawel Staniaszek, aged 29, died on Wednesday 20th April 2011 at the Military Medical Institute in Warsaw from wounds he received in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb was detonated near his patrol.

Pfc. Staniaszek, serving with the 2nd Mazowiecka Sapper Brigade, was seriously injured during the incident on 9th October 2009. The attack took place in Wardak province, about 40km from Ghazni when the patrol stopped to check their vehicles. The explosion occurred when they returned to the vehicles.

Polish soldier, Kazimierz Kasprzak

Sgt. Kazimierz Kasprzak

In the early hours of 27th September 2010, Sergeant Kazimierz Kasprzak died from wounds sustained in the explosion of the roadside bomb. 

The incident happened in the eastern part of Ghazni province. Troops of the Bravo Combat Team were attacked while performing a combat patrol. Sgt. Kasprzak was injured in the attack. 

Despite immediate  medical aid provided, he died from his injuries.

Sgt. Kazimierz Kasprzak served in the 15th Goldap Anti-aircraft Regiment. He was 32, and leaves a wife and two children. 

He becomes the 21st Polish fatality in Afghanistan.