The Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said Polish and allied aircraft had been deployed to secure national airspace, three days after Warsaw reported shooting down Russian drones with NATO support.
“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 a statement, without reporting any fresh violations of Polish territory.
The Polish Air Navigation Agency confirmed the closure of the airport in the eastern city of Lublin and its surrounding controlled zone during the alert.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the heightened readiness had been lifted but warned that Poland “remains vigilant.”
Poland and NATO allies have been on alert since more than 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace overnight Tuesday to Wednesday during Moscow’s barrage against Ukraine. Russia has denied targeting Poland.
The incident has drawn swift reactions across Europe. France, Germany, and Sweden have pledged stronger support for Poland’s air defense, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday described the drone incursion as “unacceptable and dangerous”.
In the latest development, NATO member Romania said on Saturday that its airspace had been breached by a drone during a Russian attack on infrastructure in neighbouring Ukraine.
The country scrambled two F-16 fighter jets later that day to monitor the situation following strikes on Ukraine, said a defence ministry statement.
The latest measures highlight growing concerns among NATO members that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over further into allied territory — a scenario Western leaders have repeatedly said would mark a dangerous escalation.
(mo)
Source: Reuters, AFP