Poland has launched preventive military aviation operations to protect its airspace as Russia continues to carry out strikes against Ukraine, the Polish army said on Saturday.
The Polish military said it had activated aircraft and placed ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems on heightened readiness. The measures were described as precautionary steps aimed at protecting Polish airspace.
The move comes as Russia carries out attacks against targets in Ukraine, including areas in the western part of the country close to Poland's border. Poland has previously scrambled fighter jets during Russian attacks on neighbouring Ukraine as a precaution.
Polish authorities have stressed that such operations are intended to monitor and protect the country's airspace. The military has not reported a violation of Polish airspace in connection with the latest operation.
Poland, a NATO member, shares a long border with Ukraine and has been closely monitoring developments since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country's military has repeatedly increased its air-defence readiness during major Russian attacks near its territory.
The latest alert also follows warnings from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk about the possibility of Russian drone or missile incidents affecting NATO countries that support Ukraine. Tusk said there was a risk of projectiles entering the territory of countries on NATO's eastern flank, although such warnings are assessments rather than reports of a confirmed attack.
A similar situation occurred earlier in the week when Poland scrambled military aircraft after Russian strikes in western Ukraine. Two airports, in Rzeszow and Lublin, were temporarily affected, but the Polish army said no violation of its airspace had been recorded.
The latest measures underline the heightened security situation along NATO's eastern flank as the war in Ukraine continues. Poland's military remains on alert to respond if developments from the conflict pose a direct threat to its airspace.
For now, the Polish army's latest action is described as preventive rather than a response to a confirmed breach of Polish territory.