Poland ends military operations related to defending airspace

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces announced Wednesday morning that the air defense operation conducted overnight to protect Polish airspace had concluded.

The statement said that ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to normal operation. The Polish military will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine, remain on alert, and ensure the security of Poland's airspace.

On Wednesday morning, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that drones "posing a threat" had been shot down over Poland, claiming they were "Russian."

He told the Sejm, or the lower house of the Polish parliament, that there were no reports of casualties. The search for and identification of debris is ongoing.

"We are most likely facing a large-scale provocation, as this is the first time Russian drones have been shot down over the territory of a NATO country," he said.

"At the same time, we are maintaining close contact with NATO so that in the coming hours, days, and in the longer term, we can respond as effectively as we did last night to such threats," he added.

According to Polish Press Agency, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to convene a meeting of the National Security Council within 48 hours. "This situation is unprecedented in the history of both NATO and Poland," he said.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart wrote on social media platform X on Tuesday that: "Numerous drones entered Polish airspace overnight and were met with Polish and NATO air defenses. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is in touch with Polish leadership and NATO is also holding close consultations with Poland."

Reuters on Tuesday quoted a NATO source as saying that NATO is not treating the drone incursion into Polish territory as a Russian attack.

Poland had previously closed airports due to temporary military operations on Tuesday night. The airports have now reopened. Polish airspace has also reopened, except for the Lublin region.

Charge d'affaires of the Russian Federation Andrei Ordash told RIA Novosti that he had been summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry amid reports concerning the drones. Poland had presented no evidence of the drones' alleged Russian origin.