Poland scrambles jets after Russian air strikes on Ukraine

Missiles and drones pummel Lviv region near Polish border, say Ukrainian officials

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Nato member Poland said it scrambled aircraft early on Oct 5 to ensure its air safety after Russia launched air strikes on Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials reporting missiles and drones raining down on the Lviv region near the Polish border.

“Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness,” Poland’s operational command said in a post on X.

Eastern-flank Nato members are on high alert after Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace in September and drone sightings and air incursions, including in Copenhagen and Munich, have led to chaos in European aviation.

Lithuania’s airport in Vilnius was closed for several hours overnight after reports of a possible series of balloons heading towards the airport late on Oct 4.