Poland scrambled military aircraft and activated air-defence systems twice on Friday, 23 October, as Russian attacks on western Ukraine prompted precautionary security measures near the Polish border.
Residents in parts of eastern Poland received emergency text messages warning that Polish military aircraft were operating in national airspace while Russian forces attacked targets across the border.
By early Friday afternoon, both military operations had ended and the public warnings had been withdrawn.
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First alert issued before dawn
The first response began at approximately 4am local time, when Poland’s Government Security Centre (RCB) sent alerts to residents of selected districts in the Lubelskie and Podkarpackie regions, both of which border Ukraine.
The messages warned of an ongoing Russian air attack in Ukraine and informed recipients that Polish military aircraft were operating in national airspace.
Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command said it had activated the necessary elements of the country’s air-defence system in response to Russian strikes in western Ukraine.
The measures were preventive and intended to protect Polish airspace, particularly in areas neighbouring the locations being attacked.
After 9am, the command confirmed that the operation had ended and that ground-based air-defence and radar systems had returned to normal operations.
Crucially, the military reported that no violation of Polish airspace had been detected during the morning operation.
The RCB subsequently withdrew its public warnings.
Second alert as Russian drones approach Polish border
A second military response began around midday following reports of Russian drones operating over the Volyn and Rivne regions of western Ukraine.
According to reporting by Onet, some drones were detected approximately 30 kilometres from the Polish border in Ukraine’s Volyn region. Other drones were reported farther east in Rivne.
The reported distances have not been independently confirmed by Poland-24.
At 12.03pm, the RCB issued another emergency alert, this time covering 18 districts and cities in the Lubelskie region.
The warning was cancelled at 12.37pm, while military aircraft continued their precautionary mission.
Poland’s Operational Command announced the conclusion of the second operation at approximately 1.47pm.
The second activation was a response to attacks inside Ukraine, not confirmation that Poland itself had been attacked.
Were Polish airports closed?
The military operations also raised concerns about disruption to civilian aviation.
At approximately 5.50am, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) warned that flights at Rzeszów Airport in southeastern Poland could be delayed or temporarily suspended because of military aviation activity.
The warning was reported by Polish broadcaster RMF24 during its coverage of the morning operation.
However, the warning did not amount to confirmation that all Polish airports had closed.
Airports in eastern Poland have experienced temporary restrictions during previous military responses to Russian attacks on Ukraine, but the extent of any disruption on Friday should be distinguished from those earlier incidents.
Poland remains on alert
Friday’s operations underline the security consequences of Russian attacks on western Ukraine for neighbouring Poland, a NATO member.
Poland has repeatedly deployed military aircraft and placed air-defence systems on heightened readiness when Russian missiles or drones operate near its eastern frontier.
Such measures are designed to monitor potential threats, protect national airspace and allow the armed forces to respond rapidly if an unidentified object approaches or crosses the border.
The activation of air defences does not, by itself, indicate that Poland has been directly attacked.
The latest confirmed military announcement on Friday indicated that the afternoon operation had ended, while Polish forces remained responsible for monitoring developments across the border.
