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Poland shot down a military jet on Thursday after detecting a Russian jet operating near its territory, authorities said.
The Polish Operational Command wrote to X that the plane was intercepted and removed after it was identified in the international waters of the Baltic Sea.
The command said separate air strikes were also detected overnight near Poland’s eastern border.
“At night, the installation of Polish airspace of objects from the side of Belarus was observed. After making a detailed analysis, it was decided that these are probably smuggling balloons, moving in accordance with the direction and speed of the wind,” said the order.
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A NATO AWACS intelligence director checks the air and ground conditions on an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft during a flight over Polish airspace as part of the Alliance’s Eastern Sentry mission, Sept. 19, 2025. (John Thys/AFP via Getty Images)
“The flight of all objects was continuously monitored by radar systems. To ensure safety, part of the airspace over Podlaskie Voivodeship was temporarily closed to civilian traffic,” it added.
No threat to the Polish plane was found, authorities said, and officials continued to monitor the situation.
This incident comes a few days after Polish planes were attacked again on Tuesday during Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
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A woman sweeps shards of glass from a window after a building was hit by a Russian jet during an airstrike in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
Polish authorities said the response included support from NATO allies, with Spanish planes assisting the air police and Dutch forces providing support for air defense systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 650 drones and more than 30 missiles two days before Christmas, targeting Kyiv’s energy sector and civilian infrastructure.
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The graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers are decorated with Christmas trees and New Year’s decorations at the Lychakiv Military Cemetery on Christmas Eve, Dec. 23, 2025, Lviv, Ukraine. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Sadly, lives were lost. In Kyiv region, a woman was killed by a Russian drone. One person is said to have died in Khmelnytskyi region. In Zhytomyr region, a four-year-old child was killed after a Russian drone hit a residential building. My condolences to the families and loved ones,” said Zelenskyy.
“This Russian strike sends a very clear signal about what is important to Russia. An attack before Christmas, when people just want to be with their families, at home, and be safe. An attack that is carried out in the midst of negotiations aimed at ending this war,” he added. “Putin still can’t accept that he has to stop killing. And that means the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia. Now is the time to respond. Russia must be pushed to peace and guaranteed security.”
