The Operational Command of Poland's Armed Forces said it had initiated "all necessary procedures" to ensure the safety of Polish airspace and was "monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis."
Polish and allied aircraft were activated in the morning, the Operational Command said in a statement, adding that measures were taken to ensure security in areas near the Ukrainian border.
The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) said civilian airports in the cities of Radom and Lublin were temporarily closed to allow military aircraft to operate freely in response to the Russian strikes on western Ukraine.
The two airports resumed operations around 9:30 a.m., public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
At about 10:30 a.m., the Operational Command said the threat of Russian missile strikes on regions bordering Poland had decreased and that Polish and allied aircraft were returning to base.
It reported no violations of Polish airspace during the attacks.
"We thank NATO Air Command, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the Turkish Air Force for their support," the Operational Command said, adding that Norwegian, Spanish and Turkish aircraft helped "ensure security in Polish skies."
It also thanked the German army “for its commitment and support,” including by deploying the Patriot air defence system, which it said strengthened the protection of Polish airspace.
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine overnight into Thursday, targeting regions across the country, according to Ukrainian officials.
Regional authorities said an initial assessment showed that Russian attacks on the country’s energy network injured at least 13 people, including six children, and caused power outages nationwide.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched over 650 drones and more than 50 missiles to attack his country overnight.
"Many were shot down, but unfortunately, there have been hits," he wrote on X, adding that at least two civilians were killed as energy facilities in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia regions came under fire.
Zelensky urged further international sanctions on Russia.
"New steps are needed to increase pressure on Russia’s oil and gas industry, its financial system, and through secondary sanctions on those who bankroll this war," he said.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Thursday marked the 1,345th day of the war.
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Source: IAR, PAP, polskieradio24.pl, Ukrinform