Russian military helicopter violates Polish airspace

A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter made an incursion on Tuesday September 23 into Polish airspace near the border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, the Polish army said, accusing Moscow of once again wanting to put its defense to the test.

According to the Polish operational command, the aircraft, which was flying from Kaliningrad, violated Polish airspace “at a maximum depth of approximately 300 meters and remained there for 42 seconds” north of the town of Braniewo (north).

“The flight of the aircraft was observed by the radiolocation systems of the Polish Armed Forces. Fighter jets were deployed and ground forces and assets remained on alert,” the army said in a statement published on X. “The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is once again testing the readiness of our air defense,” it added.

The Polish military stressed that the country's air defense systems "provide 24-hour surveillance" and remain "in permanent preparation to guarantee the security of Polish airspace." Since the start of the war against Ukraine, several Russian drones, missiles, planes and helicopters have violated the airspace of this main country on NATO's eastern flank.

Poland and its allies intercept Russian planes several times a month over the Baltic, approaching Polish airspace or that of the Baltic countries. In mid-September, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia's plans for its war against Ukraine include "hybrid" drone and missile strikes against kyiv's allies in Europe.

“The Russian plan, according to intelligence assessments..., includes hybrid drone and missile attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland,” he said in a speech to parliament.