Amidst Russian Attacks, Poland Closes Airspace and NATO Augments Baltic Security

On Sunday, a portion of Polish airspace located southeast of the capital was briefly closed due to undefined military actions, as Russia conducted a new round of attacks on Ukraine. The Polish armed forces confirmed the deployment of fighter jets as a security measure, leading to the temporary airspace closure affecting the cities of Lublin and Rzeszów. The closure was projected to last until the early morning hours. Concurrently, Ukraine’s air force initiated nationwide air raid sirens from 03:00 GMT on Sunday in response to continuous Russian missile strikes. Earlier this month, Polish and NATO forces took action to intercept Russian drones that entered Polish airspace, the first direct military confrontation with Moscow since the 2022 invasion. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned NATO and the European Union of a strong response to any aggression. Lavrov stated at the United Nations General Assembly that Russia would not attack the West but was prepared to respond to provocation. In light of drone incursions in Denmark, NATO announced it will augment its Baltic Sea mission with an air defense frigate and other assets, including enhanced surveillance capabilities. Unidentified drones were observed near Danish military installations, leading to authorities labeling the events as hybrid attacks. Copenhagen airport, the busiest in the Nordic region, was temporarily closed, with other smaller Danish airports also shutting down for a period. In neighboring Norway, police are investigating possible drone sightings near Oerland air force base. In Germany, a drone swarm was spotted, with the Interior Minister aiming to revise air safety laws to permit the armed forces to shoot down drones. Defense ministers from about 10 EU countries have expressed a desire to prioritize building a “drone wall” to secure their borders. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that these measures would heighten military and political tensions.