Russian Mi-8 helicopter violates Polish airspace near Kaliningrad, Poland says

A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter briefly entered Polish airspace near the northern border on September 23, according to Poland's Armed Forces Operational Command. The incident occurred north of Braniewo at approximately 11:08 a.m. local time, after the helicopter had flown from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The helicopter remained in Polish airspace for 42 seconds, reaching a maximum depth of around 300 meters.

Polish military radar systems tracked the aircraft, and fighter jets were scrambled while ground forces were placed on standby. Polish air defense crews are on constant watch to protect the country's airspace. The incident suggests that Russia is testing the readiness of Poland's air defense once again. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned on September 13 that Russian escalation could increase in the coming months, and recent events, such as drone strikes near the Ukrainian border, illustrate the growing tensions in the region.