‘Preventive operations’ included putting air defence systems on high alert and followed serious Russian incursion earlier in the week
Polish and allied aircraft have been deployed in a “preventive” operation in Poland’s airspace because of a threat of drone strikes in neighbouring areas of Ukraine, and the airport in the eastern Polish city of Lublin was closed, authorities have said.
The alert on Saturday lasted about two hours. On Wednesday multiple Russian drones had crossed into Poland, prompting Nato to send fighter jets to shoot them down, underlining long-held concerns about the expansion of Russia’s more than three-year war in Ukraine.
The Polish military’s operational command posted on X during the afternoon that ground-based air defence and reconnaissance systems were on high alert.
It stressed “these actions are preventive in nature” and were aimed at securing Poland’s airspace and protecting the country’s citizens. It cited a threat of drone strikes in regions of Ukraine bordering Poland but didn’t give further details.
