Poland has temporarily restricted airspace southeast of Warsaw due to unexpected military maneuvers, coinciding with a fresh surge of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
This Sunday, Polish and allied fighter jets were deployed to patrol the nation’s skies as NATO announced an enhancement of its Baltic Sea operations, prompted by recent drone intrusions in Denmark and reported drone activity in Norway.
The escalating situation underscores growing regional instability, as diplomatic attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict stall, fueling concerns about the potential expansion of hostilities into broader European territories.
In the most recent event, Polish military forces dispatched aircraft to safeguard national airspace following Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, describing the move as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and territorial security.
The airspace closures affected areas around Lublin and Rzeszow and were anticipated to remain in effect until early morning hours.
Ukraine’s air force confirmed that air raid warnings were active nationwide from 03:00 GMT Sunday in response to the Russian offensive.
Earlier this month, Polish and NATO forces intercepted Russian drones violating Polish airspace, marking the first direct military confrontation with Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned NATO and the European Union that any hostile acts against Russia would provoke a firm retaliation.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Lavrov asserted that Russia harbors no intentions to attack Western nations but remains ready to respond if provoked.
On the same day, NATO revealed plans to bolster its Baltic Sea mission by deploying an air-defense frigate and additional assets, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, in reaction to a series of drone-related incidents in Denmark.
Danish officials reported unidentified drones near military sites overnight Saturday, intensifying security concerns.
Additionally, Copenhagen Airport-the busiest in the Nordic region-was forced to shut down for several hours late Monday after multiple large drones were detected in its airspace. Subsequently, five smaller Danish airports, both civilian and military, experienced temporary closures.
Danish authorities have labeled these incursions as hybrid attacks, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describing them as “the most severe assault on Denmark’s critical infrastructure to date.”
In neighboring Norway, police are investigating possible drone sightings near the Oerland air force base, the central hub for Norway’s F-35 fighter jets.
A spokesperson from the Norwegian Armed Forces’ joint headquarters told Reuters that base security personnel observed unusual activity outside the perimeter early Saturday morning.
Brynjar Stordal, speaking to AFP, noted, “While the objects are likely drones, the ongoing investigation will clarify their nature.”
He added that at least two drones entered a restricted zone near the base for approximately an hour before disappearing.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt reported a drone “swarm” sighting on Friday over Schleswig-Holstein, a northern state bordering Denmark.
Dobrindt expressed intentions to amend air safety regulations to empower the military to neutralize unauthorized drones.
On Friday, defense ministers from around ten European Union countries announced plans to prioritize the development of a “drone shield” aimed at securing EU borders.
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned these initiatives, warning they would exacerbate military and political tensions across Europe, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti.
The ministry further dismissed the plans as driven by “personal ambitions and political maneuvering among the EU’s leadership.”
