Brits looking to visit Poland this Christmas should follow a few simple rules to keep themselves safe.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is about to enter its tenth month, with at least 40,000 people having lost their lives, according to one estimate.
Last week the conflict appeared on the brink of significant escalation when a missile hit a Polish village, killing two people and leaving world leaders to decide whether Nato countries should come to Poland's aide.
The prospect of a mass conflict was averted when Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Kyiv's air defences were "most likely" accidentally to blame.
Russia continues to batter parts of Western Ukraine with missiles however, meaning tensions over the Polish border remain high.
Poland is intimately involved in the war effort, having taken at least 1.4million Ukrainian refugees and bolstered the country's arsenal with hundreds of armoured vehicles and tanks.
The 332-miles border between the country and the unpredictable aggression of the Russian military raises questions about how safe it is to travel to Poland.
If you do want to head to Krakow to check out its famous Christmas market or Warsaw for its art and culture, then the UK's Foreign Office recommends getting travel insurance, and making sure it's comprehensive enough.
"It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides appropriate cover," the Foreign Office advice reads.
There is currently no advice for Brits to stay away from Poland, but travelling further east should be avoided.
"The Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. You should not attempt to cross into Ukraine from Poland," the advice continues.
Staying away from towns and villages that are close to the border is advised.
"The Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing, with attacks against a number of major cities," the advice continues.
"Russian military strikes have taken place in Ukraine within 20km of the Polish border. There is a real risk to life.
"We advise British nationals to leave Ukraine immediately if you judge it is safe to do so. Ukraine’s airspace is closed."
It is much easier to travel to the north east of Poland now than in recent months, since the country's government lifted a ban which limited access to the Belarusian border.
Belarus has sided with the Russians and allowed its armed forces to move through the country.
"From 1 July 2022, Poland suspended a law limiting access to areas close to the Belarusian border (- areas within approximately 3 kilometres of the border - in parts of Podlaskie and Lubelskie Voivodeships," the advice continues.
"However, access to within 200 metres of the border is still limited."
The Foreign Office has said that visits to Poland by UK nationals are generally safe.
"Many British nationals visit Poland every year. Most visits are trouble-free," the advice continues.
If you do feel comfortable travelling to Poland this Christmas, then you could do worse than the visiting Krakow.
The historical city is incredibly well connected to the UK, with 28 non-stop flights to and from London alone each day.
As well as its Christmas market, Poland's second city has plenty of excellent museums and art galleries.
Stag do organisers have long known that a half litre of beer in Krakow will set you back less than £1.50, which is roughly a third of the average UK price.
There are few nicer places to relax, sip a drink and tuck into some delicious pierogi than in the city's old market square, known as Rynek Główny.
