Polish troops shot down drones that violated the country's airspace during Russia's night attack on Ukraine. Their remains are being searched for. So far, 7 drones and 1 bullet remains have been revealed. Most of them were located in Lublin Voivodeship.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an extraordinary gathering of the Council of Ministers for 8 hours. Earlier, president Karol Nawrocki led a briefing at the National safety Office, attended by the head of government.
Due to the nightly violation of the Polish airspace, the head of MON decided to return early to the country from a visit to London. Kosiniak-Kamysz was to attend the gathering of defence ministers from Group E5.
MFA spokesperson Paweł Wroński reported that decisions on diplomatic consequence to violations of the Polish airspace by drones will be taken after the Wednesday gathering of the government. Decisions will besides be taken after the gathering of the governing bodies of the state.
Services in the East
Ministry of Interior - Police, Border defender and State Fire Department - act in connection with the action of neutralization of objects. An alarm was announced for police units from the Podlaskie, Lublin, Podkarpackie and Mazovia garrisons.
The forces of the National Emergency and Rescue strategy in the east of the country were put on alert. In Lublin, a crisis staff was launched after uncovering the damaged drone in Czosnówka in the Bial district.
Warnings to Residents
The General Staff of the Polish Army warned that in the case of the discovery of shot down drones or their fragments, they should not be approached, touched or moved. Each find must be reported to emergency number 112 or to the nearest police unit.
Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka reported that no events were reported in the strategical energy infrastructure area. The Ministry of National Education ensured that all students and teachers could safely go to their schools.
Communications from the highest authorities
Prime Minister Tusk informed in the morning: "The operation active in repeated violations of Polish airspace. The military utilized weapons against objects. I'm in constant contact with the president and the defence Minister. I received a direct study from the operations commander."
The Prime Minister besides informed the Secretary-General of NATO of the current situation. Kosiniak-Kamish added that "airplanes utilized weapons against hostile objects" and that Polish authorities are in constant contact with NATO command.
First authoritative infringement
After 4 a.m., the Operations Command of the Types of Armed Forces officially informed about the multiple invasion of the Polish airspace by drones. "At the command of the Operational Commander of the R.S.R., weapons were utilized and service operations were ongoing to find the shot down objects" - the message sounded.
Just before 8 o'clock, DORSZ reported that the operation of Polish and allied aviation related to violations of Polish airspace ended. After 4 o'clock, Chief of General Staff Wiesław Kukuła reported that the operation was in advancement and asked for patience with respect to information.
7 drone remains found
Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that 19 drones were tracked over Poland. Activities related to the search and indication of possible fall of objects are ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of abroad Affairs Karolina Galecka reported that 7 drones and 1 bullet remains have been revealed in Poland so far (as at 11 o'clock).
These are:
- Particles (Zamojski Province, Lublin Province) - 1 drone,
- Garlic - 1 drone,
- Wyryki Wola (Italy, Lublin) - 1 drone and damaged residential building
- Curve of Cologne (Purczewski, Lublin Province) - 1 drone,
- Wyhalew (Pow. Parczewski, Lublin Province) - remains of a bullet of unknown origin,
- Wohyń (Razzyński Province, Lublin Province) - 1 drone,
- Monks (Opoczyński, Łódź) - 1 drone,
- Oleśno (Pow. elbląski, Warminko-Mazurskie) - 1 drone.
Closure of airspace
For safety reasons, 4 Polish airports in Rzeszów, Lublin, Warsaw and Modlin were closed at night. The U.S. national Aviation Administration reported that this was due to "unplanned military activities related to the safety of the state".
Polish LOT Airlines diverted any of the flights to another airports in Poland. Before 8 o'clock, Chopin's airspace was reopened.
Reactions from the United States
Infringement of Polish airspace caused a reaction in the US. The case was informed by the State Secretary and national safety advisor Marco Rubio.
Republican Congressman Joe Wilson declared that "the intrusion of Russian drones into Polish space is an act of war" and called on president Trump to accept sanctions against Russia. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin stated that the violations constitute a "serious informing that Vladimir Putin is trying to make determination to defend Poland and the Baltic States".
Sources used: "PAP" Note: This article was edited with the aid of Artificial Intelligence.
