Border regions received emergency warnings before authorities issued the all-clear. Poland deployed military aircraft and placed its air defenses on alert on Thursday evening as Russia launched airstrikes against western Ukraine, prompting warnings in regions bordering Ukraine. Poland’s Government Security Center (RCB) issued alerts to residents of the southeastern Podkarpackie and eastern Lublin provinces, both of which border Ukraine. “Attention! Russian air attack on Ukrainian territory. The situation is being monitored,” the warning read. “Polish aircraft are operating in Polish airspace. Await further announcements,” it added. Poland’s Operational Command of the Armed Forces confirmed the deployment of military aircraft in response to Russian strikes targeting western Ukraine. Ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were also placed on readiness. “These actions are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting Polish airspace, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened regions,” the command said on X. Alert lifted About 30 minutes later, RCB issued an all-clear, saying that Russia’s air attack on Ukraine had ended and there was no threat to Polish territory. “Attention! The air attack on Ukraine has ended. There is no threat on Polish territory,” the agency said in an updated alert. Poland has repeatedly scrambled military aircraft and placed its air defenses on heightened alert during major Russian attacks on Ukraine, particularly when strikes target areas near its eastern border, amid concerns over potential airspace violations involving Russian missiles and drones.
Poland has repeatedly scrambled fighter jets and heightened air defenses during major Russian attacks on Ukraine. (Getty Images/ NurPhoto)
