Poland Scrambles Aircraft Twice Amid Russian Attacks on Ukraine

Poland scrambled military aircraft twice on Sunday, Oct. 18, as Russia launched air attacks on Ukraine, prompting alerts for residents in two regions bordering Ukraine.

Warsaw’s Government Security Center (RCB) warned residents⁠ in the Lublin region that Polish aircraft were operating in the country’s airspace while the situation was being monitored. The alert was later lifted.

Several hours later, the RCB issued a second warning, this time for residents of the Subcarpathian region. The alert was canceled about an hour later.

“Russian air attack on the territory of Ukraine. The situation is being monitored. Polish Air Force aircraft are operating in Polish airspace. Await further announcements,” the RCB said in its first warning, according to Ukrinform.

The authorities said the alerts were precautionary measures amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory. There were no immediate reports of a violation of Polish airspace during the two incidents.

Russian strikes on western Ukraine

The Polish alerts came as Russia attacked western Ukraine. In the Lviv region, Ukrainian air defenses neutralized a Russian drone over Malechiv⁠, falling debris set a warehouse building on fire, Ukrinform reported. The incident added to concern in neighboring Poland, where residents had already received warnings during the attacks.

The Polish military has repeatedly scrambled aircraft during Russian air assaults on Ukraine, particularly when strikes approach the country’s eastern border. The deployments are intended to monitor and protect Polish airspace.

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In May, Poland scrambled military aircraft and raised air-defense readiness⁠ during a large-scale Russian drone attack on Ukraine. Polish officials described the measures as preventive.

The deployments also come amid previous incidents involving Russian military activity near NATO airspace. In July, Polish authorities investigated a possible airspace breach⁠ after finding a crater in the Lublin region following a Russian attack on Ukraine. Warsaw later confirmed that a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile had entered Polish airspace and crashed in its territory. No casualties were reported.

In September, a Russian military helicopter briefly entered Polish airspace⁠, prompting Poland to scramble fighter jets. Polish authorities have said such incidents are being monitored as part of broader efforts to protect the country’s airspace.

Russia’s aerial attacks continue

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched nearly 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 guided aerial bombs and 66 missiles against Ukraine over the previous week, most of them ballistic missiles.

The repeated Russian air attacks have also prompted neighboring NATO members to take precautionary steps, including placing military aircraft on alert. Poland’s deployments on Oct. 18 were limited to monitoring and protecting its airspace; the reported alerts did not indicate that Poland had come under attack.