Poland activates fighter jets in response to Russian missile attacks on Ukraine
- 2 January, 05:00
Poland on Tuesday activated two pairs of F-16 fighter jets to protect its airspace as Russia has intensified airstrikes across Ukraine, according to a military report.
“We would like to inform you that intensive long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation is being observed, which is related to carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine,” Poland’s Operational Command wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The fighter jets were stationed at a base in Łask and in Krzesiny.
Poland’s move comes amid intensified airstrikes by Russia and Ukraine. Russia launched waves of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkov on Saturday, killing 28 people. Moscow said the attack was in response to Ukraine’s aerial bombardment of Russia’s border city of Belgorod earlier the same day that killed 24 people. According to Ukraine’s national police, at least six Russian missiles had reached Kharkiv on Saturday night.
Poland, a NATO member that borders Ukraine, last week reported that a Russian missile bound to Ukraine briefly penetrated its airspace.
