Poland Scrambles Jets, Shuts Airports Over Russian Strikes
Poland Scrambles Jets, Shuts Airports Over Russian Strikes
The News
Poland scrambled military aircraft and temporarily suspended flights at two airports on Thursday after Russian strikes on western Ukraine came close to the NATO member's border, Polish and Ukrainian authorities said, according to Reuters.
Sirens sounded in eastern Poland during the operation. Warsaw said flights were halted "due to military operations."
Reuters reported that Poland ended the alert after the jets were scrambled.
Timeline
Russia strikes western Ukraine, with the attacks coming close to the Polish border.
Sirens sound in eastern Poland, Polish military aircraft are scrambled and two airports temporarily suspend flights, Polish and Ukrainian authorities said, per Reuters. The Sun reported Warsaw attributed the suspension to "military operations."
The Independent reports explosions heard and airports closed near the Ukraine-Poland border amid a Russian drone attack. The Telegraph reports Poland shut the airports over a Russian drone threat.
Reuters reports Poland has ended the alert.
Reactions
Polish and Ukrainian authorities confirmed the scramble, the sirens and the airport closures, Reuters reported.
Warsaw's stated reason for grounding flights was "military operations," according to The Sun.
The sources in this story did not carry further comment from Polish, Ukrainian, Russian or NATO officials.
What's Next
With the alert lifted, the immediate question is whether Polish airspace restrictions return the next time Russia strikes targets in western Ukraine — and whether any debris or drone crossed into Poland itself, which the sources here do not establish.
Poland is a NATO member, so any confirmed incursion would raise the question of consultations with allies.
More
Coverage of the episode splits on framing: Reuters and The Sun lead on the strikes on Ukraine coming near the border, while The Independent and The Telegraph describe a Russian drone attack and drone threat as the reason the airports closed.
Poll
How should NATO respond when Russian strikes near Ukraine force a member state to close airports?
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