Poland shoots down drones after airspace breach during Russian strikes

New Delhi: Poland has shot down drones after repeated violations of its airspace during a large-scale Russian aerial assault on Ukraine. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on Wednesday that "weapons have been used” against unmanned aerial vehicles that crossed into Polish territory. "During today’s attack by the Russian Federation targeting Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly violated by drones,” the command said in a statement.

Polish and NATO fighter jets were scrambled, and air defence systems were placed on maximum alert. "Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness,” the military said

Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to the social media platform, X, and said, "An operation is underway related to multiple violations of Polish airspace. The military used armaments against the objects. I am in constant contact with the President and the Minister of Defence."

Four Polish airports, including Warsaw's main Chopin hub, were temporarily closed amid the military operation, according to the notices posted to the US Federal Aviation Administration's website. The Rzeszów-Jasionka, Warsaw Modlin, and Lublin airports were also shut.

Ukraine's Air Force initially reported that Russian drones had entered Polish airspace and threatened the border city of Zamosc, but later it deleted the statement from its Telegram channel. Air raid sirens still blared for hours across western Ukraine in areas such as Lyiv and Volyn which border Poland.

Ukraine’s Air Force initially reported that Russian drones had entered Polish airspace and threatened the border city of Zamosc, but later deleted the statement from its Telegram channel. Still, air raid sirens blared for hours across western Ukraine, including in Lviv and Volyn, which border Poland.

The drone incident surfaced as Poland announced plans to close its border with Belarus at midnight Thursday due to security risks from large-scale Russian-Belarusian military drills, known as Zapad 2025. The drills are to be held in western Russia and Belarus. It has led to increased concerns among NATO members such as Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the border would reopen only when "there was no more threat to Polish citizens." Belarus has denounced the move as "an abuse of its geographical position." Lithuania also said it would strengthen patrols along its frontier with Russia and Belarus during the drills.