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Poland halts air operations prompted by Russian strikes on Ukraine
'We inform that no violation of the airspace of the Republic of Poland has been recorded,' say armed forces.
Poland halts air operations prompted by Russian strikes on Ukraine
[FILE] Polish helicopters fly over tanks during NATO’s Dragon-24 drills in Korzeniewo, Poland, on March 4 2024. / َAA

Poland concluded military aviation operations launched in response to Russian drone strikes targeting western Ukraine, the Polish Armed Forces said early on Tuesday.

Ground-based air defence units and radar reconnaissance systems also returned to standard operations following the period of heightened readiness, the military said.

“No violation of the airspace of the Republic of Poland has been recorded,” it added.

The military said it was closely monitoring the situation and remained ready to respond immediately if necessary.

Poland’s military aircraft deployment came in response to Russian jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles carrying out strikes on Ukrainian territory, the Polish Armed Forces said early on Tuesday.

On Sunday, a Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine's border with NATO member Poland, shortly after former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European diplomats had used the same line.

European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Russian attack was meant to ‘scare’ Western countries supporting Ukraine.

"I think we should act the opposite. We should show that we are there for Ukraine and we are not scared," she said.

RelatedTRT World - Russia aims to 'scare' Western countries after strike near a train at Ukraine-Poland border: EU

The train, on a route frequently used by foreign delegations returning from Kiev, was attacked just 2 kilometres from the Polish border, according to Ukraine's railway operator.

Earlier on Sunday, a truck less than 1 km from Ukraine's border with Poland was also hit, prompting the Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossing point to briefly halt operations, according to border guards.

Russia has begun targeting Ukraine's border crossings with its Western allies in recent weeks, part of a growing campaign by both sides to erode the other's economic infrastructure more than four years into Russia's full-scale war.

Poland, a NATO member, has repeatedly placed its air defences and military aviation on heightened alert during Russian attacks near its territory.

SOURCE:َAA