Poland shoots down drones in its airspace during Russian attack on Ukraine

Poland said it scrambled its own and Nato air defences to shoot down drones on Wednesday after a Russian air attack on western Ukraine, the first time in the Ukraine war that Warsaw has engaged assets in its airspace.

Poland’s military command said Polish airspace was repeatedly violated by “drone-type objects” during the Russian attack across the border in Ukraine.

“An operation is under way aimed at identifying and neutralising these objects … weapons have been used, and service personnel are carrying out actions to locate the downed objects,” it said in a statement.

It said the military operation was ongoing and urged people to stay at home, naming the regions of Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin as most at risk.

“The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces is monitoring the situation, and subordinate forces and units remain on full readiness for immediate response,” it added.

Poland also closed four airports including its main Chopin Airport in Warsaw, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration. There was no official confirmation from Polish authorities that any airports had been closed.

The Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport in Poland’s southeast, a hub for passenger and arms transfers to Ukraine, was among the airports that had been temporarily closed, the FAA said.