Poland activated its air defense systems and scrambled fighter jets Friday morning in response to a large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine.
Preventive Measures Activated
The Polish Operational Command launched necessary forces and assets in accordance with standard procedures. Duty fighter jets were scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were brought to the highest state of readiness.
These actions are preventative in nature, aimed at securing and protecting Polish airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to threatened regions. The Operational Command is monitoring the situation, and assigned forces remain ready for immediate response.
Massive Russian Attack on Ukraine
Russian forces launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine Friday morning, utilizing cruise missiles and drones, according to Ukrainian army press services cited by Reuters.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported a significant number of Shahed-type attack drones in its airspace.
Russian Strategic Bombers Active
Telegram channels monitoring the situation reported activity from at least three Russian Tu-95 and two Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as the launch of cruise missiles that entered Ukrainian airspace around 9:30 AM Polish time.
Civilian Targets a Priority
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Counteracting Disinformation, stated on Telegram that Russia’s primary goal during daytime attacks is to increase casualties among the civilian population. He noted that combined attacks are carried out on weekdays, utilizing a large number of drones and missiles.
Ensuring Polish Airspace Security
Since the beginning of 2026, the Polish Operational Command has regularly activated Polish and allied aviation in response to Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. In March alone, jets were scrambled three times: on March 6, 14, and 24.
Separately, Polish duty pairs have intercepted Russian spy planes over the Baltic Sea, with nine such incidents occurring by mid-March 2026. In the first quarter of 2026, Polish airspace was secured in this manner at least a dozen times.
The Command consistently emphasizes that the goal is to ensure the security of Polish airspace, which has not been violated by Russian missiles or aircraft in 2026.