Poland restricts flights along border with Belarus and Ukraine until mid-December

Poland has restricted flights along its border with Belarus and Ukraine starting September 10. The restrictions will remain in place until December 9, according to the country’s Air Navigation Services Agency.

In the restricted zone, civilian drones are banned around the clock. At night, only military aircraft are allowed to fly there, while during the day flights are permitted for aircraft that have notified the authorities in advance.

Aircraft providing emergency assistance, including in cases of natural disasters or other crises, are also exempt from the ban.

The flight restrictions were imposed at the request of the Polish military’s operational command to “ensure national security,” the agency said.

The measures came in response to an incursion by approximately 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine early Wednesday morning. Some of the drones were shot down by Polish and NATO forces, while others crashed on Polish territory. After the incident, Warsaw formally requested that its NATO allies supply additional air defense systems and counter-drone equipment.

Poland also plans to fully close its border with Belarus on Thursday night, citing the Russian-Belarusian military drill Zapad-2025, scheduled to take place in Belarus from September 12–16.