Russian Military Helicopter Briefly Entered Polish Airspace

By Reuters Sep. 23, 2026 A Russian Mi‑8 helicopter. NASA / Bill Ingalls A Russian military helicopter made a brief incursion into Poland's airspace from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Polish military officials said Wednesday. The Mi-8 helicopter spent 42 seconds in Polish airspace and entered to a maximum depth of about 300 meters (328 yards), the Polish Army Operational Command said in a post on X. "Fighter aircraft were scrambled, and ground-based forces and assets remained on standby. The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is once again testing the readiness of our air defense," it said. Poland, a NATO member, is on heightened alert for any incursion into its airspace connected with Russia's war against neighboring Ukraine. The Russian Embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment about the incident. Read more about: Poland , Russian military Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow’s HSE University Buys Drones for Russian Military Rector Nikita Anisimov said funds to buy the drones are being raised through a foundation set up by the pro-Kremlin TV host Vladimir Solovyov. 2 Min read Russian Peacekeepers Complete Withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh Nearly 2,000 Russian troops finished their withdrawal from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Baku recaptured last year. 2 Min read Russian Army Claims Sweeping Battlefield Gains So Far in 2024 "In general, 880 square kilometers of territory have come under the control of the Russian army this year," Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said. 1 Min read Russia at the Heart of a Conspiracy Theory Dividing Poland Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz held a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 15, to discuss the findings of a commission he formed to reopen the...