Nato on alert as Poland scrambles jets amid Russian drone threat

Polish and allied aircraft were deployed in a “preventive” operation in Poland’s airspace on Saturday following a threat of drone strikes in neighbouring Ukraine, prompting the closure of the airport in the eastern city of Lublin, authorities said.

The alert came days after multiple Russian drones crossed into Polish territory on Wednesday, forcing NATO to scramble fighter jets to intercept them. The incidents have heightened concerns about the spillover of Russia’s more than three-year war in Ukraine.

Poland’s military operational command announced on X that ground-based air defense and reconnaissance systems were on high alert. It emphasised that the measures were “preventive in nature,” aimed at safeguarding Polish airspace and protecting citizens.

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Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that “preventive air operations” had begun due to the threat posed by Russian drones in areas of Ukraine close to Poland’s border.

Meanwhile, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency said Lublin Airport had been closed to civilian flights “due to military aviation activities.”

It didn’t specify how long that would last, but airport spokesman Piotr Jankowski told the PAP news agency that the airspace above the airport was closed until 6 p.m. (1600 GMT).

Russia has said it didn’t target Poland on Wednesday, and Moscow’s ally, Belarus, said that the drones went astray because they were jammed. But European leaders have expressed certainty that the incursions were a deliberate provocation by Russia.

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With inputs from agencies