Poland closes airspace amid Russian strikes as NATO steps up Baltic security

Warsaw [Poland], September 28 (ANI): Poland briefly closed part of its airspace southeast of the capital, Warsaw, on Sunday, citing "unplanned military activity," as Russia launched a new wave of strikes on Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.

The Polish armed forces said aircraft were scrambled to ensure the security of its skies. It described the actions as preventive and aimed at securing airspace and protecting citizens.

According to Al Jazeera, the closure covered the cities of Lublin and Rzeszow and was expected to last until early morning.

Ukraine's air force said nationwide air raid alerts were in effect as of 03:00 GMT on Sunday in response to Russian strikes.

Earlier this month, Polish and NATO forces intercepted Russian drones that entered Polish airspace, marking their first direct military engagement with Moscow since the 2022 invasion, Al Jazeera reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned NATO and the European Union that "any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response."

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Lavrov said Moscow had no intention of attacking the West but was prepared to respond if provoked.

Meanwhile, NATO announced on Saturday that it is upgrading its mission in the Baltic Sea with an air defence frigate and other assets, including "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms," in response to drone incursions in Denmark.

According to Al Jazeera, unidentified drones were seen near Danish military installations overnight on Saturday, prompting authorities to label the incidents as hybrid attacks.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said it was "the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date."

Copenhagen airport, the busiest in the Nordic region, was forced to close temporarily, while five smaller Danish airports, both civilian and military, were also shut for short periods in the following days.

In neighbouring Norway, police confirmed they were investigating possible drone sightings near Oerland air force base, the central hub for the country's F-35 jets.

In Germany, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said a drone "swarm" was spotted over Schleswig-Holstein, adding that he wants to revise air safety laws to allow the armed forces to shoot down drones, Al Jazeera reported.

On Friday, defence ministers from about 10 EU countries said they want to prioritise building a "drone wall" to secure their borders.

In response, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the measures would lead to "an increase in military and political tensions on our continent," according to state news agency RIA Novosti.

The ministry also claimed the plans amounted to "personal ambitions and political games of the EU's ruling elites." (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)