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Polish Prime Minister Tusk warns of difficult months as Russian strikes approach Polish border
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that his country faces difficult weeks and months ahead, as Russian attacks on Ukraine move increasingly closer to the Polish border. He said that Poland is on heightened alert, with government agencies preparing for what could be an exceptionally challenging and dangerous autumn.
Tusk delivered his statement on September 29, 2026, ahead of a cabinet meeting. He highlighted that recent heavy barrages against western regions of Ukraine saw Russian drones detonating near European Union territory, according to Polish broadcaster TVP Info . "We are facing very difficult weeks and months due to Russia's increasingly aggressive stance toward Ukraine, and these aggressive actions are unfortunately drawing ever closer to our own border," Tusk said.
According to Tusk, Russian strikes near the Polish border have become a regular occurrence. He clarified that his remarks were not a warning about an imminent attack on Poland, but rather addressed the risks arising from the fighting in Ukraine and the proximity of Russian strikes. "Our focus is to ensure that nothing bad happens on the Polish side," he added.
The immediate trigger for Tusk's warning was a recent incident in which a Russian Geran-5 attack drone exploded just one to two kilometers from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing at Yahodyn–Dorohusk. The threat was so close that Polish authorities had to urgently evacuate their border and customs personnel and activate emergency alarm protocols.
On September 13, Tusk had already called a special meeting with the heads of law enforcement agencies and the Ministries of Defense and Interior. At that time, he warned that Russia's escalation is becoming a reality and its manifestations are approaching the Polish border. He again cautioned that the coming weeks and months could see a notable rise in Russian activity, and did not rule out that such escalation could impact Polish territory—although he underscored this was only one possible scenario.
Tusk noted that Russian attacks near Poland are now routine, particularly strikes on border crossings and infrastructure in regions adjacent to Poland. "Every night or every 24 hours, we have to scramble our aircraft several times," he said. Poland has repeatedly deployed its air force, with military command regularly activating emergency response protocols, which involve dispatching Polish and allied fighter jets and putting air defense systems on maximum alert.
Whenever Russian forces launch cruise or ballistic missiles—or carry out massive drone attacks, such as with Shahed or Geran drones—toward Lviv, Volyn, Rivne or Ternopil regions, Poland's Armed Forces Operational Command (DORSZ) immediately triggers the NATO airspace defense protocol. This means that alert pairs of Polish Air Force F-16s, as well as allied aircraft—including American F-35s or Eurofighter Typhoons deployed on Baltic Air Policing missions or stationed at Polish air bases like Lask or Minsk Mazowiecki—take to the skies.
Tusk has previously spoken of a difficult period not only for Poland, but for Ukraine and its allies as well. On September 18, during a visit to Ukraine, he warned that challenging weeks and months were ahead for everyone, not just Ukraine. "All of us, not only Ukraine, face tough, difficult weeks and months, so this is a moment that calls for solidarity," he said.
During that visit, Tusk stated that he came to Ukraine partly to show Kyiv that it is not alone in the face of Russian aggression. He also stressed the need for continued support to Ukraine and Poland's role in strengthening regional security.
Throughout September, the Polish Prime Minister repeatedly linked the tightening of security measures in Poland directly to the increase in Russian attacks against Ukraine. Warsaw continues to emphasize the importance of supporting Ukraine and reinforcing NATO's eastern flank.
Poland has also said it is willing to consider building a plant on its territory to manufacture missiles for the American Patriot air defense systems used by Ukraine. Warsaw has proposed relocating potential production from Ukraine to Poland, although a final decision rests with the United States.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already responded to Poland's plans to establish Patriot missile production, urging Warsaw to "carefully study" Russia's military doctrine and implying potential consequences. However, Lavrov did not specify what actions Moscow might take in response.
