NATO Nation Scrambles Aircraft During Russian Attack on Lviv

Poland scrambled aircraft to protect its airspace on Wednesday as Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukraine’s western city of Lviv.

The Polish Air Force said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that the aircraft were launched as Russia carried out strikes in Ukraine’s western territory.

The Context

Warsaw has been forced to scramble its fighter jets on multiple occasions throughout the war as part of measures to protect its airspace during large-scale Russian missile strikes on Ukraine. Poland has said that Russian missiles fired at western Ukraine entered its airspace several times. Moscow has said incursions were accidental.

Poland previously scrambled its aircraft on September 2, August 26 and 27.

What We Know

“This has been another very tense night for the entire Polish air defense system due to the observed activity of Russian long-range aircraft,” the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command (DORSZ) said.

“The last such increased activity of Russian long-range aviation was recorded on the night of 1 to 2 September this year.”

It added: “We have activated all necessary procedures to ensure the safety of Polish airspace and are constantly monitoring the situation.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian attack on Lviv had killed at least five people. More than 30 people are also believed to have been injured.

A 14-year-old girl was among the victims, regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi said on his Telegram channel. Lviv city mayor Andriy Sadovyi said 35 people were receiving medical aid in the aftermath of the attacks.

Russian officials haven’t commented on the latest strikes in Ukraine. Newsweek has contacted Russia’s Defense Ministry for comment by email.

Poland has long proposed downing Russian missiles over Ukraine, although Oleg Tyapkin, the head of the European department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned last month that Russia would respond if the NATO member attempts to do so.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has rejected the proposal over concerns doing so would escalate the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Poland and other countries bordering Ukraine have a “duty” to down Russian missiles before they enter their airspace, despite NATO opposition, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the Financial Times in an interview published on Tuesday.

“Membership in NATO does not trump each country’s responsibility for the protection of its own airspace—it’s our own constitutional duty,” Sikorski said.

“I’m personally of the view that, when hostile missiles are on course of entering our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defense [to strike them] because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant.”

Views

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russia’s strike on Lviv, writing on social media: “Russian missiles against our cities and people.”

“The strike on Lviv killed five people, including a 14-year-old girl. My condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. More than 30 people were injured,” he said. “Ordinary residential buildings, schools, and medical facilities in the city were damaged.”

What’s Next?

Zelensky said each of Ukraine’s partners who help the war-torn country by supplying it with air defense systems “is a true defender of life.”

“Anyone who convinces partners to provide Ukraine with more long-range capabilities, enabling us to respond justly to terror, is working to prevent such Russian terrorist strikes on Ukrainian cities,” he added on Wednesday. “Terror must be stopped.”

Zelensky has also long called on Ukraine’s Western allies to allow his military to use their weapons to strike targets on Russian soil.

“We continue to work with all our partners to secure stronger support for our defense—especially long-range solutions that could destroy a significant portion of Russian ballistic missiles before they even launch,” he said on X on Tuesday.

“This is one of the key issues of this war. The issue of our long-range capabilities and the necessary approvals from our partners, as well as the long-range shells and missiles we could use, is critical.

“Russian strikes will become impossible if we have the ability to destroy the occupier’s launch sites, military airfields, and logistics hubs where they are located.”

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Update 9/4/24, 3:12 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.