Polish and Allied Forces Respond to Russian Missile Incursions

Once again, Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled in connection with a massive Russian attack on Ukraine. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces issued statements on this matter. "We inform citizens that such things may happen in the specified area and people are preliminarily prepared for this," explains Gen. Tomasz Drewniak.

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During the week, Polish and allied fighters were scrambled twice. On Sunday, March 24, Russians attacked Ukraine with missiles launched from 14 Tu-95 strategic bombers. Most of them were aimed at the Lviv region.

The second instance of aircraft scrambling took place on Friday, March 29. That day, Russia conducted a series of aerial attacks on Ukraine using long-range aviation. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported in the morning about the scrambling of aircraft for "air space monitoring".

The information policy in terms of reporting on such incidents is distinctly different since the change of power in Poland. What is the purpose of the statements issued by the Operational Command of the Armed Forces?

"Citizens in Poland receive a clear message. The goal is to avoid situations that have already occurred; when someone took a photo of a passing airplane, heard a bang, and added various conspiracy theories to it. It serves no purpose. The policy conducted by the Operational Command of the Armed Forces is much better. We inform citizens that such things may happen in the specified area and people are preliminarily prepared," explains Gen. Tomasz Drewniak in an interview with Wirtualna Polska.

On Friday, there was no breach of Polish airspace. It was different on Sunday. Then a missile flew into Poland and was over the country for 39 seconds.

The missile was not shot down then. -The decision by Poland not to shoot down the Russian missile that entered its airspace was a mistake. Russia should have received a clear message about this matter - assessed then Estonian diplomat and former head of foreign intelligence of that country Rainer Saks.

So why scramble aircraft? - The simplest, safest, and most certain way is to have aircraft in the air. Then we have the capability for full identification of the target - whether through radar systems, optoelectronic systems mounted on F-16s like the Sniper, or visually seeing the target - adds Gen. Drewniak.

The military stresses that during peacetime, this is the only procedure used.

"If there is a threat and we want to have control over the situation, the only way during peacetime is fighter jets, which have the capability through radar, optoelectronic systems, or visually to identify the target. Identifying the target and being certain of what it is, is the basis for opening fire. Only this ensures that we do not shoot down anything we would not want to, such as for example a Ukrainian plane," emphasizes Gen. Drewniak.

Shooting down a missile is also not that simple, as its debris must fall somewhere. The legislator has imposed on the operational commander the necessity of analyzing the consequences of granting permission to use weapons.

"We must realize that we are in peacetime and are acting within the legal framework of peacetime, not war, when not everything can be done in a way that is safe for bystanders. In peacetime, we do not have full freedom of action, without analyzing potential consequences, because of course, such an object has to fall somewhere" - pointed out in an interview for "Rzeczpospolita," the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces Gen. div. Maciej Klisz.

The spokesperson for the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, Lt. Col. Jacek Goryszewski admitted that an attempt to shoot down the missile would pose a greater risk to the surrounding residents than allowing the missile to leave Polish airspace on its own.