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Residents in parts of the Lublin and Podkarpackie provinces received a Government Security Centre alert at midday on Thursday warning of a possible air attack.
Earlier, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported that Polish military aviation had been activated in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory.
Alert for residents
Residents of parts of Lublin and Podkarpackie provinces were sent an SMS reading: “ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION! Threat of an air attack. Find a safe place. Follow the instructions of the emergency services. Await further announcements.”
Alarm sirens were also activated in Lublin and Rzeszów.
The alert was lifted at around 12:50 local time. “There is no threat on Polish territory,” officials declared.
According to the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, the deployment of Polish air power was a reaction to Russian strikes on western Ukraine. The statement noted that, in connection with the use of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles against western Ukrainian territory, military aircraft began operating in Polish airspace.
The Command stressed that the measures taken were preventive. Their aim is to safeguard Polish airspace, with particular emphasis on areas close to regions under threat.
The Operational Command also underlined that it is continuously monitoring the situation and that its forces and assets “remain ready for an immediate response”.
Tusk on Russian attack close to the Polish border
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also addressed the situation at a press conference following his meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. He referred to the recent Russian attack on western Ukraine as “massive, extremely brutal”.
Tusk said the strike took place in an area very close to the Polish border. “Near Yahodyn, which is by Dorohusk, a petrol station was apparently hit again, there was a very powerful explosion, and our aircraft were also scrambled,” the prime minister said.
He added that a similar Russian air raid had taken place two days earlier, as well as during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. In his view, this means that 17 September, which marks the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s aggression against Poland, is “unfortunately an exceptional day also in terms of today’s security situation”.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X: “Russia is not letting up in its aggressive actions. Today it carried out an attack just a few kilometres from the Polish border. There was no violation of our airspace. That is why in recent weeks I decided to strengthen the protection of Polish skies – we have increased the activity of F-16s and helicopters and are reinforcing air-defence and rapid-reaction systems.”
Airports in Lublin and Rzeszów temporarily halt operations
Both airports in Lublin and Rzeszów were also temporarily restricted. The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) explained that this was necessary to ensure freedom of action for military aircraft.
“Due to the need to ensure the freedom of action of military aviation, airports in Lublin and Rzeszów temporarily suspended flight operations,” PANSA said in a statement published on X.