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Belarus Sends Balloons Into Poland, Testing NATO’s Eastern Flank
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
On the night of January 31 to February 1, Polish military radars detected new aerial objects resembling balloons entering national airspace from Belarus, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, as reported by Defence24.
In an official statement, the Polish military noted that the objects were continuously tracked by radar systems and posed no immediate threat to national security.
The incident is seen as another attempt by Belarus to conduct reconnaissance and test the responsiveness of Poland’s air defense systems.
“Flights of the objects were monitored by military radar systems and did not pose a threat to the safety of Poland’s airspace,” the Operational Command said in a post shared on social media. The command also stated that it remains in close coordination with other government agencies, ensuring real-time exchange of data regarding observed aerial intrusions.
According to Defence24, this is not an isolated case. Similar incidents occurred on the nights of January 28–29 and January 30–31. In one instance, objects were partially identified as smuggling balloons, prompting further investigation by Polish authorities.
The Polish Border Guard confirmed that each detected movement near the border is scrutinized under the framework of the country’s integrated national security system. “Every signal of a breach or approach to the border area is verified by the services,” the agency noted.
Meanwhile, the Lithuanian Border Guard recently intercepted a weather balloon that had crossed from Belarus into Lithuanian territory, suggesting a broader pattern of low-altitude surveillance or psychological pressure tactics along NATO’s eastern flank.
Earlier, on October 30, Lithuania temporarily closed its airspace over Vilnius after suspected Belarusian balloons were observed near the capital’s airport. The closure lasted over two hours and disrupted several flights. It was the sixth such incident in a month, with Lithuanian authorities accusing Belarus of using balloons for cigarette smuggling.
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