A 'risk of an aerial assault' alert was issued inPoland following Russian drones functioning beyond the border withUkraine.
Polish and NATO aircraft were sent to safeguard Polish airspace, with the airport in the eastern city of Lublin temporarily closed as a result.
Earlier this morning, people living in the regions of Chełm, Chełmski, Krasnostawski, Lęczyński, Swidnicki, and Włodawski were alerted with a message stating: 'Risk of an aerial assault. Be especially careful.'
Adhere to the guidelines provided by the services. Wait for additional updates.
Videos shared on social media depicted air raid alarms sounding in the impacted regions – for the first time in the nation since the beginning of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk verified the information on X, stating: 'Because of the danger presented by Russian drones flying over Ukraine close to the Polish border, preventive air operations – by Polish and allied forces – have started in our airspace.'
Land-based air defense systems are now at their peak level of preparedness.
Tusk subsequently stated that the threat level has been lifted, and mentioned: 'I appreciate everyone involved in the operation in the air and on the ground. We continue to be watchful.'
The Polish military's Operational Command stated that the aircraft were involved in a mission close to the Ukraine border "to safeguard our airspace," three days following Poland's downing of Russian drones.
'These measures are proactive and designed to safeguard the skies and ensure the safety of residents, particularly in regions near the affected zone,' the Command stated in the announcement.
No further reports of breaches of Polish airspace have been made so far.
On the other side of Ukraine, in Romania, a drone intrusion led to fighter jets being deployed earlier today.
The nation's defense ministry advised residents in the southeastern county of Tulcea, near the Danube, to seek shelter.
F-16s identified and tracked a drone until it disappeared from the radar 20km southwest of the village of Chilia Veche.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Russian invasion was 'unacceptable'.
This follows an incident where Polish airspace was breached by Russian drones during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, as Russia carried out attacks on Ukraine.
It was the first instance where NATO forces had interacted with Russian assets.
The unmanned aerial vehicles were thought to be en route to a military installation affiliated with the alliance, which provides arms to Ukraine.
Russia has refuted claims of targeting Poland on Wednesday, with a Kremlin-aligned Belarus stating that the drones veered off course due to being jammed.
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