The minister of national defense should have already, after the first attack last year, obliged the Operational Commander to ensure effective air defense of the Republic of Poland using all available means, including the use of response forces. Politicians, however, pretend that nothing is happening and this continues, Col. Marek Utracki, former deputy head of the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), tells the Niezalezna.pl portal, commenting on another incursion of so-called Belarusian smuggling balloons into Polish airspace. “If today we cannot defend ourselves against such mundane elements as balloons, what will happen when the enemy attacks in a far more dangerous way?” says Wojciech Skurkiewicz, senator of Law and Justice (PiS), former deputy minister of national defense.
The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported that during the night on Wednesday, objects entered Polish airspace from the direction of Belarus. According to information obtained by Niezalezna.pl, there may have been as many as around 40 objects, but the Command has not disclosed the exact number. We were only informed that radar system activity has ended, which indicates that the objects have already fallen to the ground.
It should be emphasized that incidents of this kind fall within the catalogue of hybrid activities that Poland is facing on its eastern flank. The situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis, and the forces and assets of the Polish Armed Forces remain on standby to carry out tasks related to protecting Polish airspace. The statement emphasized this.
W środę, 28 stycznia 2026 r., w godzinach nocnych odnotowano wlot do polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej obiektów nadlatujących z kierunku Białorusi. Lot wszystkich obiektów był nieprzerwanie monitorowany przez wojskowe systemy radiolokacyjne Sił Zbrojnych RP.
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) January 29, 2026
W celu zapewnienia… pic.twitter.com/Kw58IyBHOV
Mariusz Błaszczak, former minister of national defense, referred to the events in eastern Poland on TV Republika during Michał Rachoń’s morning program.
“These objects should be shot down. The Polish Army has the appropriate weapons to shoot them down. There are anti-drone systems, the Border Guard has the right tools. Why is nothing happening in this matter? This is a question that must be put to those in power,” said Błaszczak.
“By being passive, we encourage the aggressor to escalate”
Niezalezna.pl asked Col. Marek Utracki, former deputy head of the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), to comment on the matter.
“There is no doubt that this type of operation, although conducted from the territory of Belarus, is carried out with the full approval and knowledge of Russia,” the expert reminds.
“Unfortunately, such incidents will intensify until we begin to respond in a way that is burdensome for the aggressor or humiliating before his own citizens,” he adds.
Asked why the Polish Army does not shoot down objects that violate Polish airspace, despite having the appropriate weapons, Col. Utracki points to soldiers’ fear of politicians.
“The minister of national defense should have already, after the first attack last year, obliged the Operational Commander to ensure effective air defense of the Republic of Poland using all available means, including the use of response forces. In turn, the prime minister should announce to citizens that Poland is in a state of hybrid conflict and that the state will assume responsibility for any potential damage. Third, Poland should turn to its allies for additional support in air defense and electronic warfare systems,” he adds.
“If today we cannot defend ourselves against such mundane elements as balloons, what will happen when the enemy attacks in a far more dangerous way?” again points out Wojciech Skurkiewicz, senator of Law and Justice (PiS), former deputy minister of national defense.
“There is no doubt that this is a test of our capabilities in terms of detection and our ability to deal with such incidents. Their aim is to check how the Polish Army behaves, what the reaction is to potential threats. Today, this far-reaching restraint in neutralizing these objects clearly indicates that such hostile acts will continue in the coming weeks and months,” our interlocutor leaves no doubt.
“By being passive, we encourage the aggressor to escalate its actions. If there is no effective response, because scrambling a pair of on-duty fighter jets is some kind of joke, then there will be further provocations and they will become increasingly serious. We need to consider how to counter such acts. This has been going on for too long and the scope of these hostile actions is too broad,” he adds.