Polish forces scrambled combat aircraft, placed air defense systems on heightened alert, and briefly activated air raid sirens in Lublin overnight Thursday in response to a massive Russian air attack on Ukraine.
According to Ukrinform, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Poland reported this on the social media platform X.
"Due to the activity of the long-range aviation of the Russian Federation carrying out strikes against Ukrainian territory, an operation involving military aviation has been launched in Polish airspace," the statement said.
The Command said that, in accordance with established procedures, it deployed the necessary forces and assets. Fighter jets and a long-range airborne early warning aircraft were scrambled, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on heightened readiness.
The Command emphasized that the measures were preventive and aimed at protecting Polish airspace, particularly in areas bordering territories threatened by Russian strikes.
