Poland Ready to Intercept Russian Missiles But “Conditions Apply,” Says Defense Minister

Poland has confirmed its readiness to intercept Russian missiles over its territory, though this will occur only under specific conditions. This statement was made by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak in an interview with Voice of America on December 19.

According to Błaszczak, Poland frequently readies its F-16 fighter jets due to missile threats over Ukrainian territory. However, missiles will only be intercepted over Polish airspace if they pose a risk to Polish or NATO member countries' territories.

“There has not been an instance where a missile was directly targeted at Polish territory, but last week, Polish F-16s were scrambled and ready to defend the area near the border,” Błaszczak said.

The minister also noted that airspace violations are not only an issue for Poland but also for Latvia and Romania, where unidentified drones are often detected.

Poland has strengthened its air defense system, including enhanced missile defense around key sites such as the Rzeszów airport, which is under NATO protection. According to Błaszczak, allied forces, including those from the US, the UK, Germany, and Norway, are contributing to the defense of Poland at military bases. If Polish airspace is violated, missiles or drones will be intercepted.

However, Błaszczak clarified that Poland’s stance on intercepting missiles in Ukrainian airspace remains unchanged, as no unified NATO decision has been reached on this matter.

Poland has repeatedly raised the issue of intercepting Russian missiles and drones flying over its territory on their way to Ukraine. While Poland and Romania have requested NATO’s approval for such actions, the process is currently stalled, as it requires consensus, particularly from the United States.

In recent months, airspace violations by Russian missiles and drones have been reported near NATO territories. For example, on December 13, Polish forces launched military aircraft in response to a Russian air attack on Ukraine.