Poland Closes Airports and Scrambles Jets Amid Russian Drone Incursions

Poland temporarily closed several major airports, including Warsaw Chopin Airport, and activated military defenses after Russian drones entered its airspace during attacks on Ukraine.

The Polish military's Operational Command stated that ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on the highest alert following Russia's extensive airstrikes on Ukrainian territory. To ensure the security of Polish airspace, the Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces activated all necessary procedures, affirming the military's full preparedness for an immediate response.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) indicated that Warsaw Chopin Airport and at least two other airports in Poland were unavailable due to unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on the Telegram messaging app that drones were heading west and threatening the city of Zamosc in Poland; however, this statement was later deleted.

The exact number of drones in Poland's airspace was not immediately clear. Ukrainian media reported that at least one drone was heading towards the western Polish city of Rzeszow.

Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport, located in southeast Poland and serving as a logistics hub for NATO aid to Ukraine, was also closed according to a NOTAM. The airport in Lublin, southeast of Warsaw, was similarly unavailable due to military activity.

In a related development, Poland announced the closure of its eastern border with Belarus due to joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises beginning Friday. Prime Minister Donald Tusk cited national security concerns, describing the drills as aggressive from a military doctrine perspective.

The Zapad 25 large-scale exercises, taking place in western Russia and Belarus, have raised security concerns among NATO countries, including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Prime Minister Tusk stated, "On Friday, Russian-Belarusian maneuvers, very aggressive from a military doctrine perspective, begin in Belarus, very close to the Polish border. Therefore, for national security reasons, we will close the border with Belarus, including railway crossings, in connection with the Zapad maneuvers on Thursday at midnight."