A ‘threat of an air attack’ warning has been issued in parts of Poland amidRussian drones operating over the border with Ukraine.
Polish and Nato aircraft were deployed to protect Polish airspace, and the airport in the eastern city of Lublin was shut briefly in response.
Earlier today, residents in the counties of Chełm, Chełmski, Krasnostawski, Lęczyński, Swidnicki and Włodawski received a warning that read: ‘Threat of an air attack. Exercise particular caution.
‘Follow the instructions of the services. Await further announcements.’
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk confirmed the reports on X, sayng: ‘Due to the threat posed by Russian drones operating over Ukraine near the border with Poland, preventive operations of aviation – Polish and allied – have begun in our airspace.
‘Ground-based air defense systems have reached the highest state of readiness.’
The Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said the planes took part in an operation near the border with Ukraine ‘to ensure the security of our airspace’, three days after Poland shot down Russian drones.
‘These actions are preventative in nature and aimed at securing airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened area,’ the Command said in the statement.
There was no mention of any violations of Polish airspace as of yet.
Poland said its airspace was violated by Russian drones overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday as Russia struck Ukraine, where it has been waging war since February 2022.
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