On September 11, Poland announced the imposition of air traffic restrictions along the eastern border bordering Belarus and Ukraine. The decision came after several cases of drones entering the airspace, heightening tensions amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the Polish Military Operation Management Agency, in the early morning of September 10, Poland, with the support of NATO aircraft, shot down drones suspected to be Russian. This is the first time a NATO member has been documented to have opened fire during Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The Polish Air Traffic Management Agency said that the restricted area with the EP R129 symbol will be applied from 10:00 p.m. on September 10 and will last until December 9. During the period from dawn to sunset, flights in the restricted area are only allowed to operate if they comply with flight plans, have appropriate transponders and maintain two-way communication with airlines. Military flights and some special flights are still allowed.
During the period from sunset to dawn, the flight ban is applied comprehensively, except for military aircraft. In particular, civil drones are absolutely banned from the EP R129 area for 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that its drones have attacked military facilities in western Ukraine, and affirmed that they have no intention of targeting any targets in Polish territory.
