Polish Armed Forces Commander Novak said Polish forces tracked Russian missiles over Ukraine on July 30 but lost sight of a Ukrainian MiG-29 near the border; had it entered Polish airspace, it risked being targeted under standing orders to engage any intruder, confirmed by Deputy Defense Minister Tomczyk.
Polish Armed Forces Commander Novak revealed that on July 30, while Russian missiles were crossing Ukrainian airspace, Polish air defense units lost radar contact with a Ukrainian MiG-29 operating close to the shared border. Novak warned that if the fighter had inadvertently entered Polish airspace, it could have been engaged under standing rules of engagement, creating a serious friendly-fire risk.
Deputy Defense Minister Tomczyk confirmed that Polish forces have explicit orders to shoot down any object violating the country's airspace. The directive reflects the heightened alert status maintained along NATO's eastern flank during large-scale Russian strikes.
Poland routinely scrambles aircraft and places ground-based air defenses on high alert when heavy attacks occur near its frontier, a procedure designed to protect sovereign skies. The July 30 episode underscores the danger of misidentification in congested airspace where Ukrainian and NATO assets operate in close proximity.
Officials stressed that no engagement took place, but the incident highlights the urgent need for robust deconfliction mechanisms as Russia continues its missile campaign against Ukrainian territory.
https://t.me/smolii_ukraine/162735