Poland closed its main airport in Warsaw and scrambled fighter jets along with Nato allies late on Tuesday after reports that Russian drones linked to Moscow’s war in neighbouring Ukraine had entered its airspace, report.
Ukraine’s air force initially said that Russian drones crossed into Polish territory, posing a threat to the city of Zamosc. The statement was later deleted from its Telegram channel, Reuters reported. According to report, Ukrainian media said at least one drone was believed to be heading toward the western Polish city of Rzeszow.
"Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness," the Polish armed forces’ operational command posted on X.
The Ukrainian reports of a drone incursion prompted authorities in Poland to suspend flights at Chopin Airport in Warsaw and three other airports. A Notice to Airmen posted on the US Federal Aviation Administration website said the closure was linked to "unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security", CNN reported.
The US and Nato have key military installations in the country, which has long acted as a buffer between Russia and the rest of western Europe.
The scare came as Russia intensified overnight drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. Much of the country, including western border regions such as Volyn and Lviv, were under air raid alerts for several hours, Ukraine’s air force said.
Poland, a Nato member and staunch backer of Kyiv, has repeatedly warned that spillovers from Russia’s war could drag the alliance into direct confrontation with Moscow.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland would close its border with Belarus at midnight on Thursday in response to large-scale Russian-led military exercises being staged there.
The 'Zapad-2025' (West-2025) drills, held in western Russia and Belarus, have heightened security concerns in Poland and neighbouring Nato members Lithuania and Latvia.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said a Russian airstrike killed 24 elderly people in the eastern village of Yarova. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the guided bomb strike occurred near Sloviansk, a key Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk, and urged allies to increase pressure on Moscow to end the war.
"The world must not remain silent," Zelenskyy said. "The world must not remain idle. A response is needed from the United States. A response is needed from Europe. A response is needed from the G20."
Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but tens of thousands have died since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
