Poland closes airspace to Russian planes

Poland will ban Russian planes from entering its airspace from Saturday in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, officials announced.

Barred from the skies: Poland on Friday said it was closing its airspace to Russian planes, a day after Moscow launched a massive attack on Ukraine.

Photo: EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

"I have ordered the drawing up of a government resolution to close the airspace over Poland to Russian airlines," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a social media post on Friday.

His government spokesman, Piotr Müller, later wrote on Twitter that the ban would take effect at midnight.

Stosowne przepisy są niezwłocznie procedowane. Zakaz będzie obowiązywał od północy. https://t.co/6IOxDqmvMA

— Piotr Müller (@PiotrMuller) February 25, 2022

Meanwhile, Polish state airline LOT said it was suspending flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg starting 3 p.m. on Friday.

W związku z bieżącą sytuacją od godziny 15.00 PLL LOT zawiesza połączenia do Moskwy oraz St. Petersburga. Dla rejsów tranzytowych zostaną opracowane alternatywne trasy przelotów. Dział obsługi klienta LOT-u będzie kontaktował się z pasażerami przebywającymi na terenie Rosji. https://t.co/Aeh0Ud5MW5

— Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT (@LOTPLAirlines) February 25, 2022

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russia announced a "special military operation" against Ukraine to eliminate what President Vladimir Putin said was a "serious threat" against his country.

Despite appeals and warnings from the international community, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II, the Reuters news agency reported.

Top Polish officials have condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine and vowed support for the Ukrainian people.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP