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Poland shot down 19 drones in its airspace on Wednesday night, during a Russian attack on Ukraine.
Both Polish and NATO air defences were scrambled after drones ‘repeatedly’ violated the country’s airspace during a bombardment of Ukraine which left at least one dead.
Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described the incident as a ‘Russian drone swarm’ and said that ‘we’re closest to conflict since WWII.’
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, there have been multiple incidents of Russian drones entering both Polish and Romanian airspace, but this is the first time that they’ve been shot down.
Follow Metro’s blog for live coverage of Russia’s drone attack on Poland
This has prompted concern from officials, many of whom have expressed a desire to avoid escalating tensions between Russia and NATO.
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia used 415 drones and 40 missiles as part of its attacks in Ukraine overnight and added that at least 8 of these were ‘aimed toward Poland’ specifically.
Many will now be wondering about the safety of travelling Poland. Here’s what you need to know.
Which area of Poland has been affected by the drone attack?
The Polish military has urged locals in the impacted areas to stay at home, including the regions of Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin.
A statement labelled the drones as an ‘act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.’
Podlaskie, in the northeast, shares a border with Belarus. Mazowieckie is further south, and is where the capital, Warsaw, is found.
Meanwhile, Lublin is the eighth largest city in Poland and is around 93.8 miles away from the border crossing with Ukraine.
Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, the largest in Poland, closed its airspace for several hours following the drone attack, but has now reopened with warnings of disruption and delays throughout the day. Lublin Airport is also now operating as normal.
Is it safe to travel to Poland?
On September 10, the UK Foreign Office updated its guidance on travel to Poland.
A bulletin now reads: ‘Poland’s airports are open, but there may be travel disruption. Follow official Polish government announcements and updates from airlines.’
It adds that Russian military strikes have taken place in Ukraine within 20km (12.42 miles) of the Polish border, and that access to the land borders with Ukraine and Belarus is currently restricted.
Access within 15km (9.3 miles) of the Poland-Ukraine border is also restricted.
‘Observe this restriction at all times unless you’re at a designated border crossing point. Follow the instructions of Polish authorities if you are in this area,’ the guidance reads.
Likewise, parts of the Polish border with Belarus are currently restricted, and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Belarus.
Can I claim a refund for my holiday if I don’t want to go?
Since the UK Foreign Office hasn’t advised against travel to Poland for British nationals, there won’t be refunds available for those who choose not to travel.
As Grant Winter, compliance officer at specialist travel insurance provider Goodtogo, previously told Metro: ‘No airline is obligated to refund you for a flight you choose not to take.’
So, it’s worth keeping in mind that you’re likely to lose some – or even all – of your money if you choose to cancel your trip to Poland.
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