September 11, Pozirk. Warsaw has restricted air traffic in the eastern part of the country along the shared border with Belarus and Ukraine until December 10 at the request of the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command following yesterday’s unprecedented Russian drone incursions.
The move is part of measures to step up the country’s national security. However, Poland has not introduced any restrictions along the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.
The ban covers civil aviation, except for government, medical and emergency flights that are necessary to protect and control critical infrastructure.
The no-fly zone is in effect between sunset and sunrise for all types of aviation except military planes. It entered into force one day before the start of a major Russian-Belarusian military drill, Zapad-2025, in Belarus.
The maneuvers are expected to involve around 8,000 troops, including 2,000 Russians, according to Mindaugas Mažonas, head of Lithuania’s Second Investigation Department. Minsk has not disclosed the number of participants.
Earlier this week, Lithuania announced additional measures to beef up security at borders with Belarus and Russia during the exercise, while Poland will close its border with Belarus at midnight.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the closure may extend beyond Zapad-2025 duration, noting that Warsaw would open the border when it is fully confident that Belarus does not pose a direct threat to Poland or its citizens.
