Russia violates Poland’s airspace during cruise missile attack on western Ukraine

Russia violated Poland’s airspace with a cruise missile on Sunday as it launched a
major air attack
on western Ukraine, according to the Polish armed forces.

Russia launched air raids on or around several major Ukrainian cities, including Lviv near the Polish border and the capital Kyiv, just hours after Vladimir Putin vowed to take revenge for the Isis terror attack on a
Moscow concert hall
. The Russian president promised that anyone involved in the assault will be “justly and inevitably punished”.

Missiles targeting Lviv region in the early hours of Sunday morning passed close to the Polish border and, in one case, entered Poland’s airspace for as long as 39 seconds, forcing the Polish air force to place its F-16 fighter jets on high alert.

“On 24 March at 4.23am (3.23am GMT), there was a violation of Polish airspace by
one of the cruise missiles launched overnight
by long-range aviation of the Russian Federation,” the Polish armed forces said in a post on X.

“The object entered Polish space near the town of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and stayed there for 39 seconds. During the entire flight, it was observed by military radar systems,” it said, adding that all necessary procedures were launched to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.

“Polish and allied aircraft have been activated, which may result in increased noise levels, especially in the south-eastern part of the country,” the Polish armed forces said.

The southeastern
part of Poland borders Ukraine
. The statement added that the Nato nation activated all necessary procedures to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.