{
  "id": 12886118,
  "title": "Polish SIM cards found in Russian drones downed in Poland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/polish-sim-cards-found-in-russian-drones-downed-in-poland",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T13:54:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/polish-sim-cards-found-in-russian-drones-downed-in-poland/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Polish military prosecutors discovered Polish SIM cards in certain Russian drones that were brought down during a Russian drone swarm invasion of Poland on September 9-10, 2025, according to RMF24. The authorities did not specify if the SIM cards had been stolen or acquired illegally. The investigation was halted as it failed to identify the individuals responsible for the Russian incursion. On September 9, 2025, over 30 Gerbera-type drones penetrated Polish airspace, with some being shot down by the Polish military. Russia, in attacks on Ukraine from Belarus, likely utilized Belarusian Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks and repeater stations on Belarusian soil to provide stable connections to Russian Shahed-type drones, as two Ukrainian officials revealed on September 14, 2026. This information emerged two days after Russia deployed hundreds of drones along Ukraine's northern border in a rare mass attack targeting western Ukraine on September 12. Presidential Advisor Serhii \"Flash\" Beskretnov stated that the flight patterns of the drones used in the attack indicated the use of Belarusian mobile networks for the cross-border assaults. Russia, lacking access to advanced technology like SpaceX's Starlink, typically relies on a combination of innovative radio technology to maintain communication with Shahed-type drones during mass attacks on Ukraine. On September 13, 2026, Tusk cautioned that Russian aggression could escalate in the coming months, as strikes on a Polish-Ukrainian border crossing and a passenger train were reported on September 13, 2026. Tusk noted that the period ahead would witness intense Russian actions, with an unfortunate possibility of escalation reaching Polish territory. In response to potential threats, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk announced on September 28, 2026, that Poland would modify procedures for military aircraft and helicopters engaging objects entering from Russia. The new protocol will replace the current requirement for visual confirmation with a 'positive identification' system, allowing Polish forces to target missiles or drones entering Polish airspace faster.",
  "summary": "An investigation on a mass Russian drone incursion into Polish air space on Sept. 9 concluded on Oct. 8.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "Polish SIM cards found inside Russian drones in Poland, raising new questions over 2025 incursion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/polish-sim-cards-found-inside-russian-drones-in-poland-raising-new",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:50:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}