Poland has said that a Russian military Mi‑8 helicopter penetrated its airspace earlier this morning, staying at a depth of around 300 metres for 42 seconds north of Braniewo, near the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The Polish Army Operational Command confirmed that the aircraft was tracked by radar at 11:08 local time (09:08 GMT). In response, Polish air defences were on high alert, with fighter jets scrambled and ground units kept on standby.
The incident comes amid a series of hybrid‑wage attacks across NATO countries, including drone strikes and alleged sabotage, as Russia has been accused of testing NATO’s readiness to support Ukraine. Moscow, however, has so far denied any intention to attack Polish territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia does not plan to assault NATO states, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that if Europe were to confront Russia, a new kind of brief war could ensue.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has voiced concerns that Russia may be preparing further strikes on the Eastern flank, citing increased hybrid threats aimed at undermining support for Ukraine. France’s President Emmanuel Macron has also responded by pledging protective measures for critical infrastructure after similar attacks.
Alongside this latest air‑space breach, Poland remains vigilant, noting that drones and missiles have already landed in the country since the start of the war in Ukraine.
