Hours after the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the heightened air defence of its eastern border by its own (including the F-16 pictured) and allied combat aircraft, a Russian cruise missile violated the country's airspace en route to striking western Ukraine. (Polish MND)

A Russian cruise missile launched against a target in Ukraine briefly violated Polish airspace, hours after the NATO country reported a reduction in the threat level on its eastern border.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the incident in which one of an undisclosed number of Russian cruise missiles fired in the early hours of 24 March crossed into Polish airspace where it flew for less than a minute before striking western Ukraine. This happened less than 48 hours after the ministry declared that it was standing down the increased Polish and allied aerial operations across the eastern border region “due to a reduced level of threat”.

Hours after the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the heightened air defence of its eastern border by its own (including the F-16 pictured) and allied combat aircraft, a Russian cruise missile violated the country's airspace en route to striking western Ukraine. (Polish MND)

A Russian cruise missile launched against a target in Ukraine briefly violated Polish airspace, hours after the NATO country reported a reduction in the threat level on its eastern border.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the incident in which one of an undisclosed number of Russian cruise missiles fired in the early hours of 24 March crossed into Polish airspace where it flew for less than a minute before striking western Ukraine. This happened less than 48 hours after the ministry declared that it was standing down the increased Polish and allied aerial operations across the eastern border region “due to a reduced level of threat”.

Hours after the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the heightened air defence of its eastern border by its own (including the F-16 pictured) and allied combat aircraft, a Russian cruise missile violated the country's airspace en route to striking western Ukraine. (Polish MND)

A Russian cruise missile launched against a target in Ukraine briefly violated Polish airspace, hours after the NATO country reported a reduction in the threat level on its eastern border.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the incident in which one of an undisclosed number of Russian cruise missiles fired in the early hours of 24 March crossed into Polish airspace where it flew for less than a minute before striking western Ukraine. This happened less than 48 hours after the ministry declared that it was standing down the increased Polish and allied aerial operations across the eastern border region “due to a reduced level of threat”.

Hours after the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the heightened air defence of its eastern border by its own (including the F-16 pictured) and allied combat aircraft, a Russian cruise missile violated the country's airspace en route to striking western Ukraine. (Polish MND)

A Russian cruise missile launched against a target in Ukraine briefly violated Polish airspace, hours after the NATO country reported a reduction in the threat level on its eastern border.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the incident in which one of an undisclosed number of Russian cruise missiles fired in the early hours of 24 March crossed into Polish airspace where it flew for less than a minute before striking western Ukraine. This happened less than 48 hours after the ministry declared that it was standing down the increased Polish and allied aerial operations across the eastern border region “due to a reduced level of threat”.

Hours after the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the heightened air defence of its eastern border by its own (including the F-16 pictured) and allied combat aircraft, a Russian cruise missile violated the country's airspace en route to striking western Ukraine. (Polish MND)

A Russian cruise missile launched against a target in Ukraine briefly violated Polish airspace, hours after the NATO country reported a reduction in the threat level on its eastern border.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the incident in which one of an undisclosed number of Russian cruise missiles fired in the early hours of 24 March crossed into Polish airspace where it flew for less than a minute before striking western Ukraine. This happened less than 48 hours after the ministry declared that it was standing down the increased Polish and allied aerial operations across the eastern border region “due to a reduced level of threat”.

Hours after the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the heightened air defence of its eastern border by its own (including the F-16 pictured) and allied combat aircraft, a Russian cruise missile violated the country's airspace en route to striking western Ukraine. (Polish MND)

A Russian cruise missile launched against a target in Ukraine briefly violated Polish airspace, hours after the NATO country reported a reduction in the threat level on its eastern border.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed the incident in which one of an undisclosed number of Russian cruise missiles fired in the early hours of 24 March crossed into Polish airspace where it flew for less than a minute before striking western Ukraine. This happened less than 48 hours after the ministry declared that it was standing down the increased Polish and allied aerial operations across the eastern border region “due to a reduced level of threat”.