Poland scrambles jets after drones near Rzeszów and Zamość

Poland and NATO scrambled fighter jets early on Wednesday after reports that Russian attack drones entered Polish airspace near the southeastern cities of Rzeszów and Zamość, prompting multiple airport closures and a heightened air defense alert across the country. Polish armed forces placed ground based air defenses and radar reconnaissance systems at the highest state of readiness and said Polish and allied aircraft were operating in Polish airspace, according to a post by the operational command on the social platform X.

Notices to airmen published by the US Federal Aviation Administration showed closures at four Polish airports, including Warsaw Chopin, Warsaw Modlin, Rzeszów Jasionka and Lublin, citing unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security. A separate NOTAM specifically cited the closure of Rzeszów Airport, which serves as a hub for military resupply to Ukraine.

Initial social media and media reports said as many as 10 Russian attack drones, variously identified as Shahed or Geran 2 models, had crossed into eastern Poland from Ukraine. Ukrainian air force officials at first posted that Russian drones had entered NATO member Poland and posed a threat...