Following Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, Poland temporarily suspended flights at Rzeszow and Lublin airports. Flights resumed after military activities ended.
Poland temporarily suspended flight operations on Saturday at the southeastern Rzeszow and Lublin airports as part of security measures following Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
Civil flights paused for military air traffic
The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) announced that civil flights at Rzeszow and Lublin airports were halted to ensure that military aviation could operate freely and safely. Both airports are located close to the Poland-Ukraine border.
Rzeszow Airport stands out as a key hub, particularly for NATO’s military and logistical shipments to Ukraine.
Military activity increased in Polish airspace
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces announced that military aviation had been activated in Polish airspace due to Russia’s intensified attacks on Ukraine. The statement noted that the measures were preventive in nature and aimed at ensuring the security of airspace near border regions.
NATO aircraft also affected
Flight tracking platform FlightRadar24 reported that the temporary closure also covered NATO aircraft operating in the region. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in a NOTAM issued to pilots, announced that both airports were temporarily closed to access due to military activities related to state security.
Coincided with one of the largest attacks
The airport closures coincided with Russia restarting large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting major Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian officials stated that these attacks were among the most extensive of the year.
Approximately 70 missiles and 450 drones targeted energy infrastructure in at least six regions, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa.
Cold weather deepened the crisis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that temperatures in some regions had fallen below minus 20 degrees, leaving tens of thousands without heating. It was reported that power outages affected more than 1,100 apartment buildings in Kyiv alone, with many people spending the night in metro stations.
Attacks resumed as diplomacy continued
Ukrainian officials said the attacks came after a temporary pause of about one week, reportedly secured at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of using this period to stockpile weapons instead of pursuing diplomacy.
Meanwhile, officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia met again in Abu Dhabi to discuss a possible peace plan. The White House stated that diplomatic contacts would continue despite the tensions.
Flights resumed
Polish authorities announced that after military air activities ended, a security assessment was carried out and flight operations at Rzeszow and Lublin airports resumed following the short suspension.
