Poland activates jets amid Russia's aircraft activity against Ukraine

Poland has scrambled its jets as well as NATO aircraft, due to a "heightened activity" by the Russian air force aimed against Ukraine, officials have said.   

The US-made F-16 fighter jet.

Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Polish Army announced the move on Tuesday morning, Polish Radio's polskieradio24.pl website reported.

The Operational Command in Warsaw said it had observed "intense activity by the long-range aircraft of the Russian Federation," linked to an "intention to carry out strikes on the territory of Ukraine."

The Polish Army added it had "activated all the necessary procedures designed to ensure the security of the Polish airspace," including "activating Polish and allied aircraft."

The situation "is being monitored on a continuous basis," military officials in Warsaw added.

Informujemy, że obserwowana jest intensywna aktywność lotnictwa dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej, która związana jest z zamiarem wykonania uderzeń na terytorium Ukrainy.

Wszystkie niezbędne procedury mające na celu zapewnienie bezpieczeństwa polskiej przestrzeni… pic.twitter.com/vMQPgWjfgz

— Dowództwo Operacyjne (@DowOperSZ) January 23, 2024

Over the past month, Poland has activated its air defences on several occasions in connection with Russia's air attacks on Ukraine, one of which resulted in a Russian rocket temporarily entering Polish airspace on December 29, according to news outlets.

Tuesday is day 699 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Source: IAR, polskieradio24.pl, Polish Army