Restrictions will apply from the ground level up to FL95, which corresponds to approximately 3,000 meters in altitude. The operational command of the Polish Armed Forces submitted this request to the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, stating that the reason for the decision is Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Polish military officials stated that the purpose of these measures is to help air defense systems operate more effectively throughout eastern Poland.
“The introduced measures are intended to ensure that all elements of the air defense system of the Republic of Poland have the necessary freedom of action and the ability to respond effectively to potential threats, while minimizing the impact of these measures on civil aviation and other airspace users as much as possible,” the statement reads.
It is noted that the restrictions will not affect commercial passenger flights conducted at high altitudes.
The strictest restrictions will apply at night, from sunset to sunrise, when an absolute flight ban will be imposed in the “EP R134” zone.
During this time, the airspace within the zone will be classified as “non-confidential”.
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The only exceptions to the night ban will apply to military drones, as well as aircraft takeoffs and landings at Depultycze Krolewskie airport (EPCD) in the Chelm district, provided these operations are pre-approved.
Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that the possibility of intercepting Russian missiles while they are still in Ukrainian airspace requires thorough discussions and should not become a subject of domestic political disputes.
Speaking to the PAP news agency, the head of Polish diplomacy emphasized that the issue of intercepting these threats is fundamentally a matter of national security, not political maneuvering. He pointed out that Kyiv has faced constant ballistic missile strikes since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, leaving the city without adequate protection against such attacks.
