^{Photo: France 24}

Poland closed four key airports, including its primary Chopin Airport in Warsaw, on Wednesday after Russia launched drone strikes near the western border in Ukraine. The move, confirmed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), comes as tensions escalate along the NATO frontier.

Airport closures and operational response

The FAA reported that Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport, a critical hub for both passenger traffic and military transfers to Ukraine, was among the facilities temporarily shut down. While Poland’s military has not officially confirmed the airport closures, it stated on X (formerly Twitter) that military aircraft were deployed to ensure airspace safety and that ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on the highest state of readiness.

Ukraine’s air force initially claimed that Russian drones had crossed into Polish airspace near Zamosc, but the statement was later removed from its Telegram channel. Polish Defense Ministry officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Heightened military vigilance

Polish and allied aircraft are now actively patrolling the nation’s skies, with the operational command emphasizing that air defense units are fully alert. These measures reflect ongoing concerns about incursions following previous incidents, including the 2022 stray Ukrainian missile that struck a southern Polish village, resulting in two civilian deaths.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin described repeated drone violations of NATO airspace as a test of the alliance’s resolve, stating that Russian actions “cannot be ignored” after the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Regional alerts and cross-border threats

As of 0120 GMT, western Ukrainian regions including Volyn and Lviv, which share a border with Poland, were under extended air raid alerts. Ukrainian media reported multiple Russian drones entering Poland’s airspace overnight, although these reports remain unverified and were not confirmed by Polish authorities.

The incident underscores growing regional security challenges, as Poland and NATO allies maintain heightened vigilance along the eastern flank. While there have been no reports of drones being intercepted by Polish or allied defense systems, the temporary airport closures highlight the serious implications of potential cross-border drone activity for both civilian and military operations.

Poland’s swift response aims to safeguard commercial flights, personnel, and sensitive military logistics while signaling NATO’s commitment to defending member airspace amid ongoing regional instability.