This morning, over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, Polish fighter jets intercepted, visually identified, and escorted from their area of responsibility a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near the borders of Polish airspace,” the Polish military saidon Thursday. The Polish statement added that several objects entered Polish airspace from the direction of Belarus on Christmas Eve.
“After detailed analysis, it was determined that these were most likely smuggling balloons, moving in accordance with the wind direction and speed,” the statement said, adding that a portion of northern Poland’s airspace was temporarily closed to civilian traffic in the interests of safety. Smuggling balloons from Belarus, frequently loaded with cargoes of black market cigarettes, have also disrupted air traffic in Lithuania. The Belarusian government denies responsibility for these smuggling balloons, while the Lithuanians regard them as a “hybrid attack” by Russia’s ally to support the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz remarked on social media that Polish forces had a “busy” evening. "No threat to the safety of the Republic of Poland’s airspace was detected. The situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis, and forces and resources remain in constant readiness to ensure the safety of Polish airspace,” he said. Poland, and the rest of NATO’s eastern flank, has been on guard for Russian airspace violations as the war in Ukraine intensifies. On Tuesday, Polish and allied aircraft were deployed when Russia launched heavy airstrikes in western Ukraine, near the Polish border. Ed note: Remember your history, the Poles will fight. They have been overrun by both the Russians and Germany.) (Read More)
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz remarked on social media that Polish forces had a “busy” evening. "No threat to the safety of the Republic of Poland’s airspace was detected. The situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis, and forces and resources remain in constant readiness to ensure the safety of Polish airspace,” he said. Poland, and the rest of NATO’s eastern flank, has been on guard for Russian airspace violations as the war in Ukraine intensifies. On Tuesday, Polish and allied aircraft were deployed when Russia launched heavy airstrikes in western Ukraine, near the Polish border. Ed note: Remember your history, the Poles will fight. They have been overrun by both the Russians and Germany.) (Read More)
