Poland scrambled military aircraft and activated additional air defense measures during Russia’s large-scale overnight attack against Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on Wednesday, May 13.
According to the military command’s statement on X, Poland launched operational flights in its airspace after Russia carried out a mass attack against Ukraine using a large number of drones.
“In accordance with applicable procedures, the Operational Commander activated the necessary forces and resources at his disposal,” the statement says.
Poland said fighter jets and helicopters were deployed, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on heightened alert.
The Polish military described the actions as preventive measures aimed at protecting the country’s airspace, particularly in areas bordering regions under threat in Ukraine.
“The Operational Command is monitoring the current situation, and subordinate forces and resources remain ready for an immediate response,” the statement adds.
The move came as Russia launched a prolonged combined air assault against Ukraine involving 139 drones overnight, including Shahed drones, decoys, and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down or electronically suppressed 111 drones by 8 a.m.
Officials reported casualties and infrastructure damage across multiple regions. In the Rivne region, strikes on civilian infrastructure, including a residential building, killed two people and injured four others, according to regional governor Oleksandr Koval. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, overnight Russian attacks killed eight people and injured 11. In the Poltava region, drones struck an electrical substation, leaving more than 6,500 residents without power. Authorities also reported damage and fires in the Odesa, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions.