A ‘threat of an air attack’ warning was issued in Poland following Russian 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.’
Footage circulating on social media showed air raid sirens blasting across the affected areas – for the first time in the country since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk confirmed the reports on X, saying: ‘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.’
Tusk later confirmed that the threat level has been cancelled, adding: ‘Thank you to all involved in the operation in the air and on the ground. We remain vigilant.
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 further mention of any violations of Polish airspace as of yet.
On another side of Ukraine, in Romania, a drone incursion saw fighter jets scrambled earlier today.
The country’s defence ministry instructed citizens near in the southeastern county of Tulcea near the Danube to take cover.
F-16ets detected and followed a drone until it dropped off the radar 20km southwest of the village of Chilia Veche.
US secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Russian incursion was ‘unacceptable’.
This comes after Polish airspace was violated by Russian drones overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday as Russia struck Ukraine.
It marked the first time that Nato forces had engaged with Russian assets.
The drones were believed to have been heading for an alliance military base supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Russia has denied it targeted Poland on Wednesday, Kremlin ally Belarus said that the drones went astray because they were jammed.
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