Polish and allied aircraft were deployed in a preventive operation in Poland's airspace because of a threat of drone strikes in neighbouring Ukraine, and the airport in the eastern Polish city of Lublin was temporarily closed, authorities say.

The alert came after multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down.

The incident has underlined long-held concerns about the expansion of Russia's more than three-year war in Ukraine.

The Polish military's operational command posted on X on Saturday afternoon that ground-based air defence and reconnaissance systems were on high alert.

It stressed that "these actions are preventive in nature," and were aimed at securing Poland's airspace and protecting the country's citizens.

It c

See Full Page