Russian helicopter violated Polish airspace near Braniewo

A Russian military helicopter violated Polish airspace near the town of Braniewo on September 23 at 11:08 a.m., according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces. The aircraft flew from the Kaliningrad region, briefly entered Polish territory, and immediately turned back. Polish radar detected the incursion, prompting fighter jets to scramble and ground air defense units to raise their readiness level. The command stated the incident suggests Russia is again testing Poland's air defense preparedness. Polish air defense crews continue round-the-clock surveillance and remain ready to respond to similar incidents. This follows recent Russian drone attacks near Poland's border with Ukraine, including a September 17 incident in the Volyn region and a September 13 strike on a train locomotive near the Yagodin station, which prompted Poland to reinforce border crossings and build fortifications.