Poland evacuates eastern border posts and scrambles fighter jets during Russian strikes

Border evacuations and airspace security

Polish authorities temporarily evacuated border crossings and scrambled military aircraft on Thursday morning following Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine. Major Dariusz Sienicki, spokesperson for the Nadbużański Border Guard Division, reported that border processing was initially suspended around 03:00. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced further evacuations at Dorohusk and Hrubieszów during a Warsaw press conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. Border checkpoints at Dorohusk and Zosin were closed for thirty minutes before resuming normal traffic at 12:00, while crossings at Dołhobyczów and Hrebenne operated without interruption.

The Government Security Centre (RCB) issued emergency mobile alerts across Lubelskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships starting before 06:00. A second warning followed around 08:00 before authorities lifted all security alerts around 15:00. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces deployed Polish fighter jets and Czech JAS-39 Gripen aircraft to protect national airspace. Military officials confirmed that no violation of Polish airspace occurred during the patrols.

“When we were speaking, Ukraine was attacked again near the border with Poland, and we had to evacuate the border crossings in Hrubieszów and Dorohusk.”

Toll and targets of the Russian strikes

Russian forces struck thirteen locations in Ukraine using ballistic missiles and drones, targeting fuel supplies, transport nodes, and telecommunications infrastructure. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported strikes against fuel supply lines, while logistical hubs in Odesa and drone manufacturing facilities in Kyiv were also targeted. Ukrainian air defence units shot down or intercepted 227 aerial targets overnight. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Telegram that strikes damaged civilian homes, energy facilities, and a maternity clinic. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Russian forces would make no pause in the war.

The strikes caused fatal casualties in multiple regions. In the Kharkiv region, a strike on an agricultural enterprise in Stara Hnylytsia killed seven people and injured several others, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov and Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky. In Kyiv, the State Emergency Service confirmed two deaths and eight injuries after strikes damaged warehouses in the Solomianskyi district and sparked fires near a maternity hospital in the Podilskyi district.

Kharkiv region7

Kyiv2

Kharkiv region

7 deaths

Kyiv

2 deaths

Data from the article text

Air defence rotations and infrastructure security

During a visit to the Rzeszów military garrison, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that NATO approved plans for allied air defence systems to remain at Jasionka airport. The logistics hub is defended by two Dutch Patriot systems, a NASAMS missile battery, counter-drone systems, and 300 Dutch military personnel deployed through December 2026. Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that NATO approved an allied nation to lead the air defence rotation at the airport beginning in 2027.

Prime Minister Tusk also raised concerns regarding infrastructure security during talks with Bulgarian leaders. Tusk addressed a Wednesday evening fire at a Starlink ground station in Grójec county, Mazovia, alongside recurring incidents on Polish railway lines. Polish authorities are investigating the events to determine whether sabotage or technical failures caused the disruptions.

“This situation means that we must act consistently, cooperate with Ukraine, but also warn Europe and our European partners that this time is truly difficult and that we need to prepare well for these coming weeks and months.”