On Thursday, Polish fighter jets were deployed in response to a Russian reconnaissance aircraft detected near the country’s airspace, according to officials.
The Polish Operational Command announced on X that the Russian aircraft was intercepted and escorted out after being identified over international waters in the Baltic Sea.
Additionally, the command reported that separate incidents involving airspace intrusions were observed overnight near Poland’s eastern border.
“During the night, objects entering Polish airspace from the direction of Belarus were observed. After thorough analysis, it was concluded that these objects were most likely smuggling balloons, moving in line with wind patterns,” the command stated.
An image captures a NATO AWACS tactical director assessing the air and surface situation from an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft during a mission over Polish airspace as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry operation, dated September 19, 2025. (Photo by John Thys/AFP via Getty Images)
“Radar systems continuously monitored the flight paths of all objects. To maintain safety, a section of airspace over the Podlaskie Voivodeship was temporarily closed to civilian air traffic,” the command added.
No threat to Poland’s airspace was detected, authorities said, and officials continued to monitor the situation.
The incident comes just days after Polish aircraft were scrambled again on Tuesday as Russia carried out widespread strikes against Ukraine.
A woman sweeps up glass shards from a window after an apartment building was hit by a Russian drone during an aerial attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
Polish authorities said the response included support from NATO allies, with Spanish aircraft assisting in air policing and Dutch forces providing air defense systems support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 650 drones and more than 30 missiles two days before Christmas, targeting Kyiv’s energy sector and civilian infrastructure.
Graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers are decorated with Christmas trees and New Year’s ornaments at Lychakiv Military Cemetery on the day before Christmas Eve, Dec. 23, 2025, in Lviv, Ukraine. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)
“Tragically, lives were lost. In the Kyiv region, a woman was killed by a Russian drone. One person was pronounced dead in the Khmelnytskyi region. In the Zhytomyr region, a four-year-old child was killed after a Russian drone struck a residential building. My condolences to the families and loved ones,” Zelenskyy said.
“This Russian strike sends an extremely clear signal about Russia’s priorities. An attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe. An attack carried out essentially in the midst of negotiations aimed at ending this war,” he added. “Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing. And that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia. Now is the time to respond. Russia must be pushed toward peace and guaranteed security.”
