Poland issues RCB air alert for Podlaskie and Lubelskie as Russia strikes Ukraine

The alert

On the evening of 9 November 2026, shortly after 22:00, the Government Security Centre (RCB) sent an SMS alert to mobile phone users in parts of Podlaskie and Lubelskie voivodeships. The message warned of a Russian air attack on Ukraine and asked residents to wait for further announcements. The RCB said the alert draws on information from ministries and services such as the police, fire service and border guard.

The centre's statement read:

“Situation is being monitored. Readiness of the Polish air defence system has been raised.”

Where the alert was sent

In Podlaskie the alert reached users in the cities of Suwałki and Białystok and in ten counties, among them Suwałki, Augustów, Sejny, Sokółka, Zambrów, Wysokie Mazowieckie, Bielsk, Hajnówka and Siemiatycze. In Lubelskie it went to residents of Chełm and Biała Podlaska and to eleven counties, among them Włodawa, Łęczna, Świdnik, Krasnystaw, Łuków, Radzyń, Parczew and Lubartów. The alert was addressed to these areas specifically, not to the two voivodeships as a whole.

Air defence and the wider picture

TVP Info reported that the military had scrambled fighter jets while the Russian attack on Ukraine was under way. The alert text said that the readiness of Poland's air defence system had been raised. According to the message, the alert is to remain in force until it is cancelled. The reports do not give further details about the attack or its targets.