• Tuesday, 27 August 2024

Poland's army says unidentified object violated airspace

Poland's army says unidentified object violated airspace

Warsaw, 26 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The Polish Armed Forces said an unidentified "aerial object" flew into Polish air space on Monday morning amid a large-scale attack by Russia on Ukraine.

General Maciej Klisz, operational commander of the armed forces, said at least three radar stations had registered the presumably unmanned object.

The army was in "full control" of the situation and was ready to shoot the object down if necessary, Poland's PAP news agency quoted Klisz as saying.

The object had crossed the Polish border near the Ukrainian town of Chervonohrad at 6:43 am (0343 GMT). By Monday afternoon the army said it was still not clear if it had crashed or turned back toward Ukraine.

The airspace incursion came as Russia launched a major drone and missile attack on Ukraine, in what Kiev officials said was one of the heaviest air attacks in two and a half years of war.

Due to the proximity of Russian attacks to the Polish border, the Polish military scrambled interceptors, PAP reported. Aircraft from other allies were also involved in the operation.

Photo: MIA Archive