The Polish military sprang into action, as soon as the Russian helicopter was detected above its territory
Simon Hamalienko Publishing Lead and Adam Care
14:23, 23 Sep 2026
Poland has placed its ground-based forces on standby (file)(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Polish ground-based forces were put “on standby” and its fighter jets were scrambled after Russian activity caused a “violation” of its airspace.
Polish authorities said today its airspace was entered by a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, prompting the country to take action.
The incident reportedly occurred at 11.08am and was close to the Polish town of Braniewo. Although the violation was brief, lasting 42 seconds, Poland’s Armed Forces claim that Russia helicopter stunt was to test “the readiness of our air defense”, reports the Daily Star.
Russia had sent the helicopter form Kaliningrad Oblast and was observed by radio-location systems in Poland. It is not the first time Russia has sparked airspace related incidents with suspected cases, some including drones, reported in Latvia and Romania.
In a statement, Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said: “We inform that on September 23 this year at 11:08 a.m., north of the town of Braniewo, there was a brief violation of the airspace of the Republic of Poland by an Mi-8 helicopter of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
“The helicopter was conducting a flight from the Kaliningrad Oblast. It violated Polish airspace to a maximum depth of approximately 300m and remained in it for 42 seconds.
A Russian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter was spotted in Polish airspace (file)(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“The flight of the machine was observed by the radio-location systems of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. Fighter aircraft were scrambled, and ground-based forces and assets remained on standby. The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is once again testing the readiness of our air defense.
“The crews of the Republic of Poland’s air defense systems conduct round-the-clock observation, remaining in constant readiness to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.”
The incident comes as Russia has hammered Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, with drones in daylight attacks, hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to address world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Two people were killed and 23 were injured in Kyiv and black smoke floated above the city following the latest in what have been daily Russian attacks that torment Ukrainian civilians.
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The drones set off fires and damaged buildings in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine overnight, authorities said.
Zelenskyy was in New York for the annual gathering as part of his diplomatic effort to shore up and recruit further international support for his country’s gruelling fight against Russia’s invasion.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump, who has shown impatience with the lack of progress in talks aimed at ending the war and the escalating aerial attacks by both sides this year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is accused by Nato officials and European governments of sabotage, espionage and other threats, is not scheduled to attend the UN gathering this year.
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