Poland has raised pairs of fighter jets on alert and put its ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems on high alert. This was reported by the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces on its page on the social network X (formerly Twitter). The measures were taken in response to massive strikes by the Russian army on targets in Ukraine, including in the west of the country.
According to Ukrainian and Polish sources, air raid sirens covered the entire territory of Ukraine on the night of January 15. Russian troops attacked military facilities and energy infrastructure facilities. As a result of a number of strikes, energy hubs were damaged, which caused emergency power outages in several regions, according to Ukrainian media.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet made any official statements about carrying out mass strikes, but such actions are regularly accompanied by the use of long-range weapons, such as long-range missiles and drones.
Poland's response to the strikes in neighboring Ukraine has been to beef up its border security. Warsaw has stepped up its defensive activities in recent months in response to the escalating conflict and the growing risks associated with its proximity to the war zone. This is not the first time that Polish fighter jets have taken to the skies after such incidents: a similar measure was taken on December 25 in response to strikes on Ukrainian territory.
In addition to aviation, the Polish army has strengthened its radar systems, which are designed to monitor air threats. In recent months, Poland has significantly increased its investments in the defense sector, including the purchase of modern weapons and the strengthening of its air defense system. This is due to both the threats from the conflict in Ukraine and the overall strategy of strengthening NATO's eastern flank.