Poland restricts flights near Ukraine and Belarus borders amid Russian drone threat

Ministry of Infrastructure said the restriction is being imposed for national security reasons.

PAŻP clarified that the restriction takes effect at 10:00 p.m. on Sept. 10 and will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 9 within EP R129 special zone, which covers the entire area along the borders with Ukraine and Belarus.

Nighttime flight ban

From sunset to sunrise, all flights within EP R129 are prohibited, except for military aircraft. Additionally, the use of civilian drones is banned 24/7 in the area.

Daytime exceptions

During the daytime, the ban does not apply to:

• Manned aircraft that have filed a flight plan, are equipped with a working transponder (modes A, C, or S), and maintain constant communication with air traffic control

• Military aircraft

• Flights with special codes GARDA or ALPHA SCRAMBLE

• Aircraft with statuses: HEAD, STATE, SAR, HOSP, MEDEVAC, FFR.

State aviation, air ambulances, and emergency flights related to threats to human or animal life, or health (including natural disasters, accidents, or environmental hazards) may be carried out with the coordination of the Air Operations Command Center. Flights for protection and monitoring of critical infrastructure are also permitted.

PAŻP highlighted that entry into the active zone by aircraft not meeting the criteria constitutes a violation of aviation law.

Russian drone attacks on Poland

During Russia’s massive drone strike on Ukraine, 19 drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace. Warsaw called this an "unprecedented act of aggression."

Due to the threat to aviation, Poland temporarily closed four airports, including Warsaw Chopin, Warsaw-Modlin, Rzeszów-Jasionka, and Lublin. The situation is being closely monitored.

Amid the drone attacks, Poland increased security measures and introduced emergency readiness for the Territorial Defense Forces (WOT) in border regions. Soldiers in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, and Podkarpackie Voivodeships can now receive draft notices with a reporting time of just 6 hours; in several other voivodeships, up to 12 hours.

Russian drone violations

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that during the night of Sept. 10, 19 Russian drones were recorded in Polish airspace, many entering from Belarus. Preliminary data shows that four drones were shot down, with the last one intercepted at 6:45 a.m. local time (7:45 a.m. Kyiv time).

In Łódź Voivodeship, near Mniszków, about 300 km from the Ukrainian border, a drone of unknown origin was discovered in an open field. It is believed to have landed due to running out of fuel.

Another drone, as a result of the Russian attack, crashed into a residential building in the village of Wyrki-Wola (Lublin Voivodeship), near the Belarusian border and close to Włodawa. According to RMF24, no one was injured, and only the roof of the building was damaged.