Poland announced Wednesday that its warplanes shot down “hostile objects” in response to repeated violations of its airspace during a Russian attack on western Ukraine — marking the first such incident for a NATO member state since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
اضافة اعلان
The Polish military denounced what it described as an “act of aggression” after NATO radar systems detected more than 10 hostile flying objects during the Russian strikes on western Ukraine.
“Following today’s assault by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory, there was an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects. This act of aggression posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens,” the military command said in a statement posted on social media.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on X that “the aircraft used weapons against the hostile objects. We are in constant contact with NATO command.” His remarks came after Poland’s operational command reported that both Polish and NATO aircraft were scrambled to counter the incursions.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also wrote on X: “The operation is ongoing following multiple violations of Polish airspace. The army has used weapons against these objects.”
Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, the capital’s main hub, was temporarily closed, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which said the suspension was due to “unexpected military activity related to national security.”
In August, Warsaw lodged a protest note with Moscow after a drone crashed and exploded in eastern Poland, calling the incident a “deliberate provocation.”
These developments came a day after Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s visit to Finland, during which he stated: “While we of course look forward to a long-lasting and permanent peace, which is essential for our regions, we believe that Vladimir Putin is prepared to invade other countries.”
(AFP)
