For the second time in a week, NATO member Poland has scrambled its aircraft in response to a widespread Russian attack on Ukraine.
The Polish Ministry of Defense announced the operation overnight on Friday, which coincided with drones and missile strikes Russia launched against Ukraine’s cities.
On Saturday, the Polish Defense Ministry told Newsweek that no Polish airspace was violated and that Swedish aircraft were also involved in the operation.
This image from July 4, 2023, shows a Polish air force F-16 jetfighter in a NATO exercise.
This image from July 4, 2023, shows a Polish air force F-16 jetfighter in a NATO exercise.
JOHN THYS/Getty Images
Why It Matters
Poland has been among NATO’s eastern flank members that have warned about the security risks posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The second deployment of Polish aircraft within a matter of days shows Warsaw’s concerns about the risk of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine spilling over into alliance territory.
What To Know
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched drones and missile on the regions of Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Zhytomyr.
As Russia launched the attacks, Poland’s Armed Forces said on X that it launched “all available forces and assets,” which included aircraft being scrambled and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance being put on the “highest state of readiness.”
The Polish Armed Forces told Newsweek in a statement that a pair of Polish and Swedish fighter jets on duty in Poland were scrambled.
This was to ensure the security of the country’s airspace and that ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were brought to the highest state of readiness, the statement added.
Seven days prior, Poland’s Armed Forces issued a similar statement, which said jets were scrambled and its forces put on full alert because of Russian strikes directed, “in particular, in the west of Ukraine,” which borders Poland.
When contacted by Newsweek, Poland’s Armed Forces said earlier in July that security considerations meant they could not provide further details.
Overnight on Friday, Ukraine targeted Moscow with drones, according to Russian authorities, marking the third night in a row that the Russian capital faced fire.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defense units intercepted 13 drones flying toward the capital just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, with eyewitnesses reporting some of the devices had been short down 23 miles northwest of the city.
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: “Our warriors from various units repelled another Russian attack. More than 300 strike drones and over 30 missiles of various types were launched against our cities.”
Poland’s Armed Forces wrote on X: “The Operational Command of the Armed Forces activated all the available forces and assets, scrambled fighter jets and placed ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance systems on the highest level of combat readiness.”
Poland’s Armed Forces told Newsweek on Saturday: “To ensure the security of our airspace, both Polish and allied aircraft were operational overnight.”
It added: “This included the scramble of a pair of Polish and Swedish fighter jets currently on duty in Poland. Additionally, ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were brought to the highest state of readiness.
“These measures were taken to ensure the safety of areas bordering the regions under threat. There was no violation of Polish airspace.”
What Happens Next
Zelensky said that Friday’s attacks showed the need for Ukraine to work more closely with allies on weapons production and drone manufacturing—especially interceptor drones and air defense systems and missiles.
Meanwhile, Kyiv anticipates the delivery of U.S. weapons following pledges of support by U.S. President Donald Trump, via a NATO- and EU-backed plan in which alliance members purchase U.S.-made arms for Kyiv.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. would send its next Patriot air defense system to Germany rather than Switzerland to speed up Berlin’s promised delivery of two Patriot batteries to Ukraine.
Update 7/19/25, 6:52 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from Poland’s Armed Forces.