Poland and Latvia have announced sweeping airspace restrictions along their borders with Russia and Belarus after NATO fighter jets shot down Russian drones that briefly entered Polish airspace earlier this week — an incident marking the first direct military engagement between NATO and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Poland’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed Thursday that a ban is now in place on drones and recreational aircraft flying at altitudes up to 3,000 meters (9,900 feet) near its borders with Belarus and Ukraine. The measure will remain effective until December 9, though commercial passenger flights are unaffected. Authorities clarified that the restrictions do not extend to Poland’s northern frontier with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.

Latvia’s Defense Ministry followed with its own restrictions along its borders with Russia and Belarus, beginning Thursday evening and lasting at least one week, with an option to extend. Officials said the move was designed to allow NATO patrol aircraft and Latvian air defenses to freely intercept and respond to unauthorized airspace incursions.

The new measures come amid heightened regional tensions after Russian drones crossed into Polish territory earlier this week. NATO jets intercepted and destroyed the drones, in what analysts described as a potential Russian attempt to test allied air defenses. Moscow has denied deliberately targeting Poland and accused Warsaw of “fabricating myths” to escalate the conflict.

The airspace restrictions are part of a broader tightening of border security in the Baltics. In neighboring Lithuania, a no-fly zone has been in effect along its Belarus border since August 14 and will remain until October 1, coinciding with the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 military drills set to begin this week. Estonia, which also borders Russia, has not yet announced similar measures.

Meanwhile, political pressure is growing in Latvia to take tougher steps. The right-wing National Alliance party introduced a bill to immediately close Latvia’s borders with Russia and Belarus. The proposal has been referred to the Saeima’s national security commission for review.

Regional security experts say these actions underscore NATO’s heightened readiness posture along its eastern flank as it seeks to deter further provocations and reassure member states bordering Russia and Belarus. (ILKHA)