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Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, prime minister says Poland shoots down drones over its territory amid Russian attack on Ukraine, prime minister says
(32 minutes later)
Donald Tusk says operation launched after ‘repeated violations of Polish airspace’Donald Tusk says operation launched after ‘repeated violations of Polish airspace’
Poland has shot down drones over its territory after repeated violations of its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine, prime minister Donald Tusk has said, marking the first time in the Ukraine war that Warsaw has engaged Russian assets in its airspace. Poland said it scrambled its own and Nato air defences to shoot down drones over its territory after repeated violations of its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine, marking the first time in the war that Warsaw has engaged Russian assets in its airspace.
“An operation is underway related to the repeated violation of Polish airspace,” Tusk wrote on X early on Wednesday. “The military has used weaponry against the objects.” He said he was in “constant contact” with President Karol Nawrocki and the operational commander. “An operation is under way related to the repeated violation of Polish airspace,” prime minister Donald Tusk wrote on X early on Wednesday. “The military has used weaponry against the objects.” He said he was in “constant contact” with President Karol Nawrocki and the operational commander.
The announcement came after Poland closed airports and the army said it had launched an operation “to neutralise” objects that crossed over its border.The announcement came after Poland closed airports and the army said it had launched an operation “to neutralise” objects that crossed over its border.
“At the request of the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, weapons have been used, and operations are underway to locate the downed targets,” Poland’s military command said in a post on X earlier. “At the request of the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, weapons have been used, and operations are under way to locate the downed targets,” Poland’s military command said in a post on X earlier.
It said the military operation was ongoing and urged people to stay at home, naming the regions of Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin as most at risk.It said the military operation was ongoing and urged people to stay at home, naming the regions of Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin as most at risk.
“The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces is monitoring the situation, and subordinate forces and units remain on full readiness for immediate response,” it added. Defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he was in touch with Nato’s command as he urged citizens to abide by the instructions of the army and the police, and not approach debris from the drones.
Four airports, including the major Chopin airport in Warsaw, were closed according to the US Federal Aviation Administration, while the country’s armed forces said that military aircraft had been activated to ensure airspace safety. There was no official confirmation from the command that any airports had been closed. President Nawrocki was kept informed about the situation, the National Security Bureau said in a statement.
Deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk said in a post on X that an operation had been launched “to neutralize objects that have violated and exceeded the border of the Republic of Poland” and that “we ask you to follow the announcements of the Polish army and the police.” Overnight, four airports were temporarily closed due to “unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security,” according to guidance published by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland’s southeast, a hub for passenger and arms transfers to Ukraine, was among the airports that had been temporarily closed. Both Warsaw airports were reportedly affected by the incident, according to the statement, alongside a smaller port in the eastern city of Lublin, and a key logistics and arms transfer hub in the south-eastern city of Rzeszów. There was no official confirmation from Polish authorities that any airports had been closed.
Earlier, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian drones had entered Nato-member Poland’s airspace, posing a threat to the city of Zamosc, but it subsequently removed that statement from the Telegram messaging app. The first reports about possible violations of the Polish airspace emerged late on Tuesday night after Ukraine’s air force said that Russian drones had entered Poland’s airspace, posing a threat to the city of Zamość. It subsequently removed that statement from the Telegram messaging app.
In the United States, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said repeated violations of Nato airspace by Russian drones were a sign that “Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations.“In the United States, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said repeated violations of Nato airspace by Russian drones were a sign that “Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations.“
“After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored,” he said on X.“After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored,” he said on X.
The alleged incursion comes a day after Poland’s newly elected nationalist president Karol Nawrocki warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was ready to invade more countries after launching his war in Ukraine.
“We do not trust Vladimir Putin’s good intentions,” Nawrocki told reporters Tuesday at a press conference in Helsinki.
Poland has been on high alert for objects entering its airspace since a stray Ukrainian missile struck a southern Polish village in 2022, killing two people, a few months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But there have been no reports of Polish or allied defence systems destroying drones.Poland has been on high alert for objects entering its airspace since a stray Ukrainian missile struck a southern Polish village in 2022, killing two people, a few months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But there have been no reports of Polish or allied defence systems destroying drones.
As of 0120 GMT, most of Ukraine, including western regions of Volyn and Lviv, which border Poland, had been under air raid alerts for several hours, according to Ukraine’s air force. The incident comes shortly before Russia and Belarus are set to begin military drills on Friday, which have raised security concerns in the region.
On Tuesday, Poland said it would close its border with Belarus as a precautionary measure, with neighbouring Lithuania also declaring it would step up its border controls.
With ReutersWith Reuters