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Poland, with the help of NATO, deployed helicopters and fighter jets to the east of the country. It also closed the airspace over Lublin airport due to a preventive operation, the reason for which was the threat of Russian drones over Ukraine near the Polish border. After about two hours, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on the social network X that the operation was over. The Romanian Air Force was also on alert on Saturday, sending two F-16 fighter jets into the air. Its airspace near the border with Ukraine was violated by a drone.
“Given the threat posed by Russian drones operating over Ukraine near the Polish border, Polish and allied air forces have launched preventive operations in our airspace,” Tusk wrote on X. After about two hours, he said the state of emergency had been lifted. “We thank everyone who participated in the operation, both in the air and on the ground. We remain vigilant,” the Polish prime minister added.
The decision was confirmed by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces. “Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems are on the highest level of alert,” the Operational Command of the Armed Forces wrote on Saturday afternoon. “These measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened area,” it added.
"The east of the country was hit the hardest by Wednesday's incident, when several Russian drones entered Polish airspace," recalled Jan Řápek, a correspondent for ČT in Poland."It is not yet clear how many there were exactly," he added, adding that speculation is that there were as many as 23 drones. Polish officials are calling the measures preventive.
Allied reaction
NATO is deploying additional forces to the borders with Russia and Belarus in response to the violation of Polish airspace by Russia. The decision to launch the operation was made following consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which Poland initiated after the intrusion of Russian drones.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte justified the measure by saying that Wednesday's incident of Russian drones entering Polish territory was not an"isolated incident." He said the alliance needed to be prepared and "sufficiently protect" its eastern flank.
According to Rutte, the threat of Russian drones also concerns Lithuania and Latvia. In addition, Polish soldiers are holding exercises in the east and north of Poland, which are supposed to be a response to the Russian and Belarusian army exercises"West 2025", which are taking place near the Belarusian border.
While US President Donald Trump described the drone incident as a"possible mistake", representatives of Poland, Germany, the European Union and Ukraine are talking about Russian intentions, and NATO responded by announcing that it is strengthening the protection of the borders of its eastern flank. The Russian Ministry of Defense did not deny the drone incursion, but claims that it was not intentional or an attack.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was unclear whether Russia deliberately sent the drones into Polish territory, according to Reuters. But Rubio also called the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace unacceptable.
The Romanian army was also in action
Romania's Defense Ministry said on Saturday it had scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to warn residents near the southeastern city of Tulcea, near the Ukrainian border, to take cover after a drone violated the country's airspace during a Russian attack on Ukrainian infrastructure near the border. The jets were tracking the drone, which was not flying over populated areas and did not pose an immediate threat to residents.
Romania, which is also a member of the EU and NATO, shares a border with Ukraine of about 650 kilometers. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Romania has repeatedly experienced the impacts of Russian drone debris on its territory.
