Poland downs Russian drones that violated its airspace during strikes on Ukraine

ISTANBUL

Poland said Wednesday that it downed drone-type objects that repeatedly violated its airspace during Russian strikes on Ukrainian targets.

"As a result of today's attack by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory, there was an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects," the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command said on the US social media company X’s platform.

It said the act "created a real threat" to the country and Polish forces used weapons against the intruding objects.

Polish and allied radars tracked several dozen objects, and some unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that violated airspace could have posed a threat and were shot down, it said.

Authorities ordered residents in the most threatened regions -- Podlaskie, Mazowieckie and Lubelskie provinces -- to remain at home while military operations continue.

"We emphasize that military operations are ongoing and we appeal for people to stay at home," it said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that an operation was underway and that the army was using weapons against the objects.

He said he is in constant communication with President Karol Nawrocki and Defense Minister Wladysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Tusk said he also briefed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the current situation and the measures taken regarding objects violating their airspace.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland is in constant contact with NATO command. He said the Territorial Defense Forces have been activated for ground searches of downed drones.

Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said Nawrocki and Tusk had been informed of the situation and asked the public to follow announcements from the Polish Army and police.

Nawrocki said he would soon chair a briefing at the National Security Bureau.

Polish government spokesman Adam Szłapka said a meeting between Tusk and ministers responsible for national security is currently underway. Tusk also called the Cabinet to an extraordinary meeting at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600GMT)

Poland also closed major airports, including Warsaw International, Modlin, Lublin and Rzeszow-Jasionka, due to the security situation.

As a result of these developments, the Polish Territorial Defense Forces announced that the reporting period for soldiers has been shortened.

It said soldiers in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, Lubelskie and Podkarpackie could receive an emergency call-up within six hours, while soldiers in Pomorskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Swietokrzyskie and Malopolskie could be called up within 12 hours. The forces said no calls are planned for the rest of the country in the next 24 hours.

US Sen. Dick Durbin previously warned that "repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones are fair warning that (President) Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations."

Tusk had vowed "decisive action" against airspace violations, stating Friday that Poland would "react very decisively to such provocations."