Poland has sent significant armed forces to its border with Russia in response to "disturbing movements" and the successful prevention of a potential "provocation" overnight, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Tuesday.
Tusk stated that security forces were mobilized shortly after midnight following reports of suspicious activity on Poland's northern border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. "We very quickly mobilized the necessary security forces and means on site, and we successfully prevented any attempted acts of provocation," Tusk said, adding that it was impossible to "completely confirm" the specific intentions behind the activity.
This incident follows weeks of warnings from Polish and allied intelligence agencies regarding potential Russian "acts of diversion or more serious provocation" targeting the European Union and NATO member, including the possible "intrusion of armed individuals into Polish territory." Tusk cautioned that Poland could face prolonged "escalation from the Russian side" and urged heightened vigilance against sabotage and other threats.
Poland, situated on NATO's eastern flank, has been a key logistical hub for Western military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Warsaw has repeatedly accused Moscow of "sabotage" in recent years.
Tusk's announcement coincided with a wave of hoax bomb threats that caused significant disruption to air travel across Europe, forcing at least six passenger jets to make emergency landings, including two within Poland.
One LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin Airport on Tuesday morning following a mid-air security alert. The aircraft landed safely, and authorities were investigating the threat. Another flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw also landed safely and was being checked. Airports in Spain and Bulgaria also reported similar incidents involving diverted flights.
In September, Tusk had previously warned that Russia's war strategy included "hybrid" attacks utilizing drones and missiles against Ukraine's allies.