Russian Attack Prompts Polish Air Defenses to Intercept Drones
Poland activated its air defenses, alongside NATO allies, to intercept drones that entered its airspace during a Russian aerial attack on Ukraine wednesday morning. this marks the first instance of Poland directly engaging in the conflict as an inevitable result of spillover from the war.
polish military officials reported tracking over ten airborne objects violating Polish airspace during the russian strikes targeting western Ukraine. Those identified as posing a threat were “neutralized,” with searches underway to locate any potential crash sites.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as an act of aggression endangering Polish citizens and announced an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers. He confirmed ongoing operations and stated he is in constant communication with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Authorities advised residents in the Podlaskie,Mazowieckie,and Lublin regions to remain indoors.
The U.S.Federal Aviation Administration temporarily closed four Polish airports, including Warsaw Chopin Airport – the country’s largest – and Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, a key transit point for aid to Ukraine. Flight tracking data shows numerous flights scheduled to land at Chopin were diverted to airports in Katowice, Wroclaw, and Poznan.Russia’s defense ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Earlier, Ukraine’s air force reported russian drones entering Polish airspace near Zamosc, but later removed the statement from its Telegram channel. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was briefed on the situation Tuesday, though the State Department has not yet issued a comment.
Reuters
