Russian Drones Invade Poland's Airspace, Airports Reopened

On the night of September 9, 2025, Russian military drones violated Poland's airspace amid a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack targeting Ukraine.

This marked the first confirmed occasion that a NATO member country shot down Russian drones within its sovereign airspace since the onset of the 2022 full-scale Russia-Ukraine war.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Those posing a direct threat were shot down by Polish and NATO fighter jets, including Dutch F-35s deployed to assist in air defense.

To ensure public safety, Poland closed airspace for several hours over four airports: Warsaw Chopin Airport, Warsaw Modlin Airport, Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport, and Lublin Airport.

Flights gradually resumed as security measures allowed. Warsaw Chopin, Modlin, and Rzeszów airports reopened by the morning of September 10. Lublin Airport faced operational restrictions for a longer time.

This incident represents a significant escalation, with Poland labeling Russia's incursions an "act of aggression.”

Earlier this year, the clash along the Thailand–Cambodia border caused local disruption, with air travel unaffected. Meanwhile, the Iran–Israel conflict in June led to the cancellation and rerouting of hundreds of international flights.

Photo by Artem Lobastov on Unsplash