Poland ended an alert status after Russian strikes on western Ukraine came close to its border, prompting sirens, military jet scrambles, and temporary airport closures. No violation of Polish airspace was recorded, and military aircraft have concluded their operations.
The proximity of Russian strikes to NATO member Poland's border heightened regional security concerns and demonstrated the potential for spillover from the conflict in Ukraine.
Sirens sounded in eastern Poland and military aircraft were scrambled on Thursday after Russian strikes on western Ukraine came close to the NATO member's border, prompting temporary flight suspensions at two airports. Polish authorities stated that no violation of Polish airspace was recorded and that military aircraft had finished their operations. Airports in Rzeszow and Lublin subsequently reopened.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference that a "massive attack on the western part of Ukraine — very close to the Polish border — has just ended," adding that "a petrol station was likely hit again, and our aircraft were scrambled." Lieutenant Colonel Jacek Goryszewski told private broadcaster TVN24 that a drone had crashed or been shot down around 4 kilometers from the Polish border. A Ukrainian official informed Reuters that explosions were heard several kilometers from the border on the Ukrainian side. On Sunday, a Russian drone reportedly hit a passenger train just two kilometers from the Ukraine-Polish border.
Residents in two eastern regions of Poland received alerts warning them of a risk of aerial attacks and advising them to find a safe place. Local media reported that sirens had sounded, and footage from state news channel TVP Info showed children being evacuated from a school in the eastern city of Lublin.