Poland on high alert as Russian drones cross border during Ukraine attack: Airport shut down
Russian Shahed drones entered Poland on September 10 (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On the night of Wednesday, September 10, Russian Shahed drones crossed the Ukrainian border and entered Polish airspace, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
At around 1:13 a.m. on September 10, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that the Russian army had launched several new groups of Shahed strike drones.
It was also reported that the enemy Shahed drones had left Ukrainian airspace and were now detected over Poland.
“Drones detected in Poland, heading west toward the city of Zamość,” the Air Force reported.
At the same time, monitoring channels indicate that Poland has likely scrambled F-16 fighters to intercept the Shahed drones. However, as of 1:30 a.m. Kyiv time, no official confirmation has been released.
Update at 01:50
Poland’s Air Command confirmed that on the night of September 9–10, 2025, Russia carried out another series of massive strikes on targets in Ukraine.
To ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Commander of the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces activated all necessary procedures.
“Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar recognition systems have reached the highest state of readiness,” the statement read.
The report emphasized that these measures are preventive, aimed at protecting the airspace and citizens, particularly in areas adjacent to the risk zone.
Update at 02:00
Rzeszów Airport in Poland was also closed due to unscheduled military activity.
Update at 02:30
Data from Flightradar24 indicates that an F-35 fighter jet is also operating in Polish airspace.
Update at 03:30
In addition to Rzeszów Airport, Poland has also closed airspace over Lublin Airport. Interestingly, according to Flightradar data, no passenger planes are currently observed near Rzeszów and Lublin.
However, military aircraft activity has been spotted in the area.
About Zamość
Zamość is a historic city in eastern Poland, located in the Lublin Voivodeship. The city lies approximately 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The nearest border crossing from Ukraine is Hrebenne–Rava-Ruska. Due to its location, Zamość holds strategic importance and serves as a key transport and logistics hub between Poland and Ukraine.
'Unknown flying objects' in Poland
Poland regularly scrambles combat aircraft during missile strikes on Ukraine. However, the air force does not intercept not only Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine, but also aerial targets that enter Polish airspace.
On Saturday, September 6, an object, likely a drone, fell in eastern Poland, according to a Ministry of Defense representative.
On September 8, Polish border guards reported finding debris from an unidentified flying object in a village near the border with Belarus. This is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the NATO member country.
