Poland has introduced restrictions to air traffic along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine, the Armed Forces' Operational Command said, amid increased tensions a day after multiple drone incursions into the NATO member's airspace.
Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace early yesterday with the backing of aircraft from its NATO allies, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine.
"At the request of the Operational Command of the Branches of the Armed Forces ... air traffic restrictions will be introduced in the eastern part of Poland in the form of the restricted zone EP R129", Polish Air Navigation Agency said in a statement published late yesterday.
The restrictions came into force at 10pm (11pm Irish time) and apply until 9 December, it said.
From sunrise to sunset flights in the restricted zone are banned, apart from manned aircraft operating in accordance with a flight plan with appropriate transponders and maintaining two-way communication with air authorities, the agency said.
The restrictions also make exception for military flights and some additional special-purpose flights and call signs.
"From sunset to sunrise there is a total ban on flights, with the exception of military aircraft... In the EP R129 zone, there is a 24-hour flight ban on civilian unmanned aircraft," the agency said.
Russia's Defence Ministry said that its drones had carried out a major attack on military facilities in western Ukraine, but it had not planned to hit any targets in Poland.
Yesterday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament it was "the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II", though he also said he had "no reason to believe we're on the brink of war".
Mr Tusk called the incident a "large-scale provocation" and said he had activated Article Four of NATO's treaty, under which alliance members can demand consultations with their allies.
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