Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets Amid Russian Attack on Ukraine

Poland’s armed forces responded swiftly over the weekend after Russian forces launched a wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine. In a statement released on Sunday night, Poland confirmed that it had scrambled its military aircraft and placed its air defense and radar systems on high alert due to the escalating threat near its borders.

This marks at least the third time in July that Poland—a NATO member—has activated its military response protocols in reaction to Russian attacks on neighboring Ukraine. The latest action underscores growing anxiety among NATO countries, especially those along the alliance's eastern flank, about the risk of the conflict spilling into allied territory.

According to Polish military officials, allied aircraft were also involved in Sunday’s response, although the statement did not specify which nations participated. In a similar incident last week, Swedish aircraft stationed in Poland were scrambled as a precaution.

Poland’s military emphasized that it is continuing to closely monitor the situation and remains “fully ready to respond immediately” if needed.

The combined Russian assault on Sunday night included drones and cruise missiles targeting multiple Ukrainian cities. Explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kropyvnytskyi, and other regions. Ukrainian authorities stated that at least four civilians were killed and over 40 injured in the latest round of attacks.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia had launched 324 Shahed-type drones, four Kh-101 cruise missiles, and three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles during the assault. In Kyiv, eight people, including a three-year-old child, were injured when a drone strike hit the city. Elsewhere, a Russian drone targeted a civilian bus near the village of Yunakivka in the Sumy region—about five miles from the Russian border—killing three and injuring 19.

In central Ukraine, at least nine explosions were reported in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, according to Kirovohrad regional governor Andrii Raikovych. Telegram channels also tracked Kinzhal missile launches aimed at Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region, a site known to host a Ukrainian Air Force base.

Ukrainian authorities generally refrain from publicly confirming damage to strategic military facilities, so the extent of any destruction remains unclear.

The missile barrage came just days after Russia and Ukraine held a third round of peace talks in Istanbul on July 23. However, those negotiations ended without a ceasefire or progress toward de-escalation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Sunday that Russia will not reconsider its current military course until it achieves its objectives, signaling that further hostilities are likely.

Poland’s military reiterated its commitment to securing its airspace, saying in a statement: “To ensure the security of Polish airspace...Polish and allied aircraft on duty were scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on maximum alert.”

As the war in Ukraine enters a new phase of intensified aerial attacks, NATO members bordering Ukraine are increasingly taking active defensive measures in anticipation of possible threats near their own territories.