Escalating Tensions: Airspace Closures and Drone Threats in Europe

Amid growing tensions in Eastern Europe, Poland temporarily closed sections of its airspace southeast of Warsaw on Sunday after Russia launched a new offensive against Ukraine, Al Jazeera reports. Polish military forces were mobilized for preventive action to ensure the security of its airspace and the safety of its citizens.

The closure affected key Polish cities like Lublin and Rzeszow until early Monday morning, while a nationwide air raid alert was issued in Ukraine at 03:00 GMT, in response to the Russian attacks. This comes after Polish and NATO forces recently intercepted Russian drones in Polish airspace, marking a significant military engagement with Moscow since 2022.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized Moscow's readiness to counter any provocations with a decisive response while adding that there was no intention to attack the West. Meanwhile, NATO is enhancing its Baltic Sea defense mission due to drone sightings in Denmark, amidst ongoing regional tensions.

Unidentified drones near Danish military sites led to serious security concerns, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeling them as hybrid attacks. This prompted temporary shutdowns of key airports in the Nordic region. Similarly, Norway and Germany are investigating possible drone intrusions, signaling wider European apprehensions over aerial threats.

In Germany, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is considering changes to air safety laws following a drone 'swarm' sighting. EU defense officials are prioritizing the construction of a 'drone wall' to safeguard borders. Russia denounced these Western defensive moves as exacerbating military tensions and attributed them to EU political games.