Poland scrambles jets and pre-authorises drone shoot-downs near Ukrainian border

Russian strikes near the eastern frontier

Russian attack drones struck western Ukraine near the border on Thursday morning, triggering defensive measures and emergency procedures across eastern Poland. One unmanned jet aircraft crashed or was destroyed four kilometres from the frontier near the Ukrainian settlement of Yahodyn, adjacent to the Polish border crossing at Dorohusk, where an explosion hit a petrol station. Lieutenant Colonel Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, stated that radar surveillance tracked the drone as it approached the frontier before it was neutralised or struck its target on Ukrainian territory. The Polish army confirmed that no breach of Polish airspace occurred during the attack. Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the border situation during a press conference in Warsaw.

Very close to the Polish border, near Ukrainian Yahodyn by Dorohusk, a petrol station was probably attacked again; there was a very massive explosion.

Military scramble and pre-authorised response

In response to the incoming strike, the Polish military scrambled F-16 fighter jets, deployed helicopters, and placed ground-based air defence and radar units on high alert. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk told reporters in the Sejm that the operational commander had issued standing pre-authorisation to shoot down any aerial object that crossed the border into Poland. Under this directive, pilots are authorised to engage hostile targets immediately upon detection without seeking real-time approval from command. Tomczyk explained that visual identification remains required in peacetime to prevent accidental strikes on civilian aircraft. He added that Polish forces integrated data from Ukrainian, American, and NATO radar networks to identify objects before they reached the border zone.

This is an order with pre-authorisation, meaning the pilot no longer has to confirm with the operational commander that the object is within range and whether they can fire, but can automatically shoot down such a drone or missile upon detection.

Air alerts and public evacuations

Just before noon, the Government Security Centre sent emergency mobile alerts to residents across the Lubelskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships, warning of aerial danger and instructing people to take shelter. Sirens sounded in eastern towns, and airports in Lublin and Rzeszow suspended civilian flights to accommodate military operations, while border check operations temporarily paused. In Rzeszow, employees at the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Office, the Marshal Office, and City Hall moved to basement shelters. Bartosz Gubernat, spokesperson for the Podkarpackie Voivode, reported that the regional office evacuation to level minus one was completed calmly. Several schools guided pupils into basements and lower corridors, while other institutions maintained regular classes.

Protocol updates and regional security

The incident occurred four days after a Russian drone struck a passenger train on the Kyiv to Warsaw line two kilometres from the Polish border on Sunday. Polish authorities lifted the air raid warning after approximately one hour as military operations concluded and civilian airspace reopened. The Government Security Centre detailed tiered alert notifications, distinguishing between monitoring attacks within Ukraine and issuing direct warnings when Polish territory faces aerial danger. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on social media that Poland is reinforcing its rapid response systems, expanding helicopter activity, and increasing F-16 patrols along the eastern frontier.