“The mass nature of the violation of Polish airspace, its occurrence during a special holiday period, the assessment of the activity of a Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea, as well as the fact that similar incidents have occurred recently in Lithuania, may indicate that this was a provocation under the cover of smuggling activity,” reads a statement by the National Security Bureau (BBN) regarding a Russian provocation on the night of 24-25 December. Dozens of unidentified objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus, and Polish fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. TV Republika was the first to report on the threat.
The National Security Bureau issued a statement confirming the nighttime incidents. As reported, the President of the Republic of Poland was informed of the situation by the Head of the NBB, Minister Sławomir Cenckiewicz.
“In the morning hours, the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, was informed by the Head of the NBB, Minister Sławomir Cenckiewicz, about incidents in Polish airspace on the night of 24-25 December related to the entry of several dozen objects from the direction of Belarus and the interception by Polish fighter jets of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft near the border of Polish territorial waters,”
the BBN stated.
Two incidents, one threat
According to the statement, Polish services were dealing with two separate but potentially related events. The first was a violation of the eastern border by several dozen objects. According to TV Republika’s findings, 60 objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus; so far, the services have located only four of them.
At the same time, over the Baltic Sea, Polish air forces took action against a Russian aircraft. Polish fighter jets intercepted, identified, and escorted a Russian reconnaissance plane.
The National Security Bureau reported that a detailed analysis of both incidents, their consequences, and possible correlations is ongoing. Preliminary findings indicate that some of the objects that entered from Belarus were likely smuggling balloons.
“Based on available and verified data, several (four) of the objects found so far by the relevant services in the Republic of Poland have been identified as probably smuggling balloons,”
the statement reads.
Provocation disguised as smuggling?
However, the BBN points to a broader context that may indicate hostile intent. The scale of the incident, its timing, and the simultaneous activity of Russian military aviation raise justified suspicions that it was not merely a case of smuggling.
“The mass nature of the violation of Polish airspace, its occurrence during a special holiday period, the assessment of the activity of the Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea, as well as the fact that similar incidents have occurred recently in Lithuania, may indicate that this was a provocation under the cover of smuggling activity,”
the National Security Bureau warns.
The situation is being treated with the utmost seriousness. The Head of the BBN remains in constant contact with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Full coordination of actions at the highest level has also been assured.
“The President of the Republic of Poland, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, remains in constant contact with the leadership of the BBN and other state services,”
the statement emphasized.
In conclusion, the National Security Bureau expressed its appreciation for those safeguarding Poland’s security during the holiday period.
“We express our gratitude to the command and soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces and other state services for their actions in defense of our security during the holiday period,”
the statement reads.