Poland reopened two airports on Saturday after concluding temporary military aviation operations that included flights by NATO aircraft, triggered by Russian strikes on neighbouring Ukraine, authorities said.
Airports in Lublin and Rzeszow, both located in southeastern Poland near the Ukrainian border, had suspended operations as a precaution. The Polish army’s operational command said there had been no violation of Polish airspace and confirmed that military activities had now ended.
“Operations of military aviation in our airspace, related to strikes by the Russian Federation on Ukraine, have been concluded,” the command said, adding that ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems had returned to standard duties. It also thanked NATO and the German air force for helping ensure the safety of Polish airspace.
Ukraine reported that Russia launched a massive overnight air assault on energy facilities across the country, including power stations in western regions close to Poland. Polish authorities said their response was preventive and aimed at protecting airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened regions.
The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency said the airport closures were temporary, while flight tracking service FlightRadar24 noted that NATO aircraft were operating in the area at the time. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration also issued a notice warning that the airports were inaccessible due to military activity related to state security.
Rzeszow is a key NATO logistics hub for arms supplies to Ukraine, heightening its strategic importance. Both Rzeszow and Lublin airports had suspended operations last month during routine military aviation activity, though authorities said there was no threat to Polish airspace at that time.
