Poland to Shut Border With Belarus as Russian Drones Enter Airspace

Poland will close all border crossings with Belarus this week, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced, citing rising provocations from Minsk and Moscow and the “aggressive” nature of upcoming joint military drills.

The move comes just hours after Russian drones were spotted in Polish airspace early Wednesday, prompting Warsaw to scramble fighter jets, suspend flights at its main airport, and urge residents to stay indoors. The Polish military confirmed it had used weapons to neutralize “drone-type objects” that crossed over from Ukraine.

Why Poland is closing its Belarus border

From midnight Friday, Poland will shut all road and rail crossings with Belarus. Tusk said the decision was prompted by:

• The Zapad 2025 joint military exercise being held by Russia and Belarus near Poland’s frontier.

• A surge in “various provocations” linked to both countries.

• Allegations that Minsk and Moscow have been flying in migrants from the Middle East and Africa and forcing them across the heavily fortified Polish border.

The Zapad 2025 drills

Zapad (“West”) is one of Russia’s largest recurring military exercises and will run from September 10 to 16. This year’s drills will involve more than 20 countries, including India, Iran, Mali, Niger, Tajikistan, and Bangladesh, alongside Russian and Belarusian forces.

The exercise is closely watched in Europe. During Zapad 2021, Russia deployed more than 30,000 troops to Belarus and later used them to launch its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

India’s Defence Ministry confirmed that a contingent of 65 armed forces personnel will participate in this year’s exercise.

Europe on edge

The border closure and drone incursions have heightened concerns of the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine. Germany has already updated contingency war plans, while NATO allies remain on alert.

With drones spotted over Poland, increasing Russian strikes in Ukraine, and the start of Zapad 2025 days away, European capitals fear the possibility of a wider confrontation with Moscow.