In short

• Polish and allied air forces were scrambled for operations over Poland due to the threat of Russian drones flying over Ukraine.
• The airport in Lublin was temporarily closed. RCB alerts were issued for several counties in the Lublin region. Air raid sirens sounded in Świdnik and Chełm.
• The authorities announced the end of operations and the increased readiness of the air and defense forces.

The Operational Command of the Branches of the Armed Forces reported after 4 p.m. that"due to the threat of unmanned aerial vehicle strikes in the regions of Ukraine bordering the Republic of Poland, military aviation operations in our airspace have begun".

"In order to ensure the security of our airspace, the Operational Commander of the RSZ has activated all necessary procedures. Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness," the Operational Command of the RSZ informed on the X website.

As the military explained,"these actions were preventive in nature and were aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened area."

Before 7 p.m. the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported that"the operation of Polish and allied aviation in our airspace has been terminated" and "the activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activities".

The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency informed in turn that"due to the operations of military aviation the airport in Lublin and the controlled zone around the airport were closed to air operations."

"I am constantly informed about the preventive monitoring of our airspace. Allied unity in action! Please always rely on the messages of the Polish Army and Polish services," wrote President Karol Nawrocki on the X portal.

"Due to the threat posed by Russian drones operating over Ukraine near the border with Poland, preventive operations of Polish and allied aviation have begun in our airspace. Ground-based air defense systems have reached the highest level of readiness," the head of government wrote on the X website.

Late on Friday evening, the extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council convened at Poland's request concerning the intrusion of Russian drones into Polish airspace on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday ended.

During the meeting, Poland was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki, who stated that the violation of Polish airspace constitutes a violation of international law and a destabilizing escalation of the conflict. He emphasized that Poland will not be intimidated and will continue to support Ukraine.

The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported that during the Russian Federation's night attack on Ukraine on Tuesday night into Wednesday, Polish airspace was repeatedly violated by drones. It emphasized that"this is an act of aggression that has created a real threat to the security of our citizens."

On the orders of the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, defensive procedures were immediately initiated. These drones, which posed a direct threat, were shot down by Polish and allied aircraft – the first time in modern Polish history that the Air Force used weapons in the country's airspace.