Russian strikes on Ukraine prompt Poland to activate air defence assets, RCB issues alert for eastern Poland

In brief

• Poland activated national air defence assets after a massed Russian air attack on targets across Ukraine.
• An RCB alert was sent to Lubelskie and Podkarpackie provinces early Tuesday and cancelled before 7:00 a.m.
• Flights at Lublin and Rzeszów airports could face delays due to military activity.

Air defence on alert

Poland's Operational Command of the Armed Forces said early on Tuesday that, in response to a massed Russian air attack on targets across Ukraine, it had deployed the necessary forces and equipment of the national air defence system through the Air Operations Centre and the Air Component Command (Rosjanie atakują Ukrainę. Polska uruchamia "niezbędne siły i środki" – Wirtualna Polska) (Rosja uderza w Ukrainie, Polska reaguje. "Uruchomiono niezbędne siły i środki" – Onet). The command described the measures as preventive, aimed at securing Polish airspace, particularly in border areas, and said units remained ready for immediate reaction. The launch was reported at around 3:00 a.m. (RCB ostrzegał. Nowy alert we wtorek rano – RMF24).

Public alert for the southeast

The Government Centre for Security (RCB) sent a warning shortly before 6:00 a.m. to phones in Lubelskie and Podkarpackie provinces, telling residents that a Russian air attack on Ukraine was under way, that the situation was being monitored and that further messages would follow (Alert RCB dla Lubelszczyzny i Podkarpacia. Podniesiono gotowość systemu obrony – Bankier.pl). The alert was cancelled shortly before 7:00 a.m., with the agency saying the attack on Ukraine had ended and there was no threat on Polish territory.

Impact on airports

The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency warned that military activity in southeastern Poland could cause delays to takeoffs and landings at Lublin and Rzeszów airports.

What happens next

Officials have not said how long the air defence readiness will last. Further updates were promised by the RCB and the military command, and residents in the region were told to watch for new messages.

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