Following a violation of Polish airspace attributed to a missile launched by the Russian Federation, Polish officials confirmed that high-ranking national security leaders were alerted. The Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the Ministry of National Defense stated that he had been in contact with the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces. He emphasized that all necessary measures were being taken to safeguard Poland’s airspace.
Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches reported that on March 24, at 4:23 a.m., a cruise missile from the night launches by Russia’s long-range aviation crossed Polish airspace. The missile’s targets were cities in western Ukraine, and the object re-entered Polish airspace near the town of Oserdów in the Lublin Voivodeship, remaining there for 39 seconds. Military radar systems monitored the event throughout the flight, and the matter was promptly communicated to the appropriate authorities.
Jacek Siewiera, head of the National Security Bureau, confirmed the sequence of events and noted that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was immediately informed. The Allied partners were also kept informed about a separate incident in which Russian combat assets violated NATO’s border, reinforcing the allied position on regional security and airspace integrity.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense’s press statement highlighted that the night’s events triggered all standard safety procedures. Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that his office had engaged in consultations with Poland’s top political and military leadership to align actions with the evolving security situation. The message underscored that Polish and allied aviation had been activated to bolster monitoring and readiness across the airspace, with ongoing coordination among national and allied forces to ensure rapid responses if needed.
The Defense Ministry’s officials stressed that the Polish Army maintains continuous vigilance over the Ukrainian region and stands ready to act to protect Polish airspace alongside international partners. Earlier that Sunday, the Operational Command had reported detecting heightened activity from Russia’s long-range bomber fleet, correlated with air and missile strikes within Ukraine. In response, Polish and allied aircraft were placed on heightened alert, which could lead to a temporary increase in audible activity in the southeastern part of the country.
Reports from the Ukrainian side noted a Russian missile attack in the Lviv region and the activation of air defenses. An air raid siren remained in effect across Ukraine due to the ongoing launch of cruise missiles by Kh-101/Kh-555 family aircraft, reinforcing the broader regional security picture during the night in question.
For readers following the developments, coverage underscored that the incident involved a brief incursion of Polish airspace and a rapid recovery to normal operations, with authorities reiterating their commitment to transparency and continuous monitoring. The narrative also pointed to ongoing collaboration among Poland’s security services and international partners as a cornerstone of maintaining airspace safety amid heightened regional tensions.
In related context, authorities urged caution and preparedness for residents in the southeastern regions, noting possible fluctuations in air traffic and noise levels as safety measures remained in effect. The overall assessment from Polish authorities was that the events did not indicate an escalation but rather a confirmation of the ready posture and intergovernmental cooperation that underpin Poland’s national security framework. Attribution: Official statements from the Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches and the National Security Bureau, with supplementary coverage from national outlets cited for context.