# Poland says Russian helicopter breached its airspace

> A Russian military helicopter crossed into Polish airspace for 42 seconds, prompting NATO to scramble jets as tensions rise across Eastern Europe.
- Title: Poland says Russian helicopter breached its airspace
- Summary: A Russian military helicopter crossed into Polish airspace for 42 seconds, prompting NATO to scramble jets as tensions rise across Eastern Europe. Poland…
- Keywords: poland, russia, nato, kaliningrad, airspace violation, ukraine, hybrid warfare, eastern europe, news, world, Russian, helicopter
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c699d2dn9z0mo
- Published: 2026-09-23T15:37:20.966+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: poland, russia, nato, kaliningrad, airspace violation, ukraine, hybrid warfare, eastern europe, news, world
## Russian helicopter crosses Polish border
A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter crossed from Kaliningrad into Polish airspace north of Braniewo on Wednesday morning, penetrating about three hundred metres deep.
## Incursion lasted 42 seconds
Poland's military tracked the helicopter by radar. It stayed in Polish airspace for forty-two seconds at eleven oh-eight local time before leaving.
## NATO scrambles fighter jets
Poland scrambled fighter jets and kept ground forces on alert in response. The military said the incident shows Russia is testing NATO air defence readiness.

> the nature of the incident indicates that Russia is once again testing the readiness of our air defence
## Wider pattern of Russian pressure
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russia is planning drone and missile strikes against Poland and other NATO members on Europe's eastern flank.

> In recent weeks, the Russian hybrid threat against Europeans... has intensified
## Europe reports sabotage campaign
France, Germany, Lithuania and other NATO members have reported suspicious fires, blasts and drone attacks at defence sites in recent weeks, blaming Russia.
## NATO vows to support Ukraine
Poland and France say they will not be intimidated and remain committed to supporting Ukraine. Lithuania says it has evacuation plans but will not surrender if attacked.

> The result will be the exact opposite. We are not intimidated because we know that our security today and tomorrow is at stake in Ukraine.
## Key takeaway

Poland reported a Russian military helicopter violated its airspace for 42 seconds, forcing a NATO response amid escalating Russian hybrid attacks across Eastern Europe.