Security
Russian Drone Incursions Threaten Flights in Poland
Airports in Warsaw, Lublin, and Rzeszów temporarily closed
Russian drones shot down in Poland
Polish and NATO aircraft were deployed to shoot down Russian military drones in eastern Poland on Tuesday night. (Dyami Security Intelligence)

Aircraft operators are having to urgently assess the risks posed by Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace late Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. As Polish defense systems reacted to repel the drones, destroying several in the process, flights were abruptly halted at Warsaw’s Chopin (EPWA) and Modlin (EPMO) airports, as well as at Lublin (EPLB) and Rzeszów (EPRZ).

The incident marked the first time Russian drones were shot down over NATO territory, with security analysts warning of escalated dangers posed to civil air traffic in a region destabilized by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that four of 19 Russian drones had been destroyed by Polish and NATO aircraft, and that the incursion has left the country at the closest point to open conflict since World War II.