Polish border town on high alert as Russia threatens hybrid strikes
Residents of Dorohusk, Poland, received multiple air-raid alerts after Russian drones hit nearby Ukraine, prompting fears of hybrid attacks warned by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
On September 13, two Russian drones detonated on the Ukrainian side of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn border crossing, their blasts audible in the Polish village of Dorohusk. The incident triggered three siren alerts and a brief suspension of traffic, followed by an evacuation of border staff. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia plans hybrid attacks, including drones and rockets, against European nations aiding Ukraine, especially those bordering the conflict.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the site on September 22 and confirmed that Patriot batteries are being positioned in the border provinces. In response, Dorohusk’s school director Jarosław Wójcicki has instituted daily safety briefings and prepared basement shelters, while residents like mayor Wojciech Sawa describe growing anxiety and confusion over the frequent warnings. Officials such as Mirosław Sokal stress the need to build civil resilience, urging people to seek shelter away from windows during air threats.
Why it matters
The alerts show how the Ukraine war is spilling into neighboring NATO states, testing Poland's civil-defence readiness.
How this story developed
- Aug 14 Russia claims strikes on Ukrainian rail hub and vessels as drones hit Russian ports
- Sep 16 Lavrov announced Russia's readiness to resume US‑Ukraine‑Russia negotiations and a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 17 Speaking in Presov before a trip to Kyiv, Fico described the Russia-Ukraine war as out of control and warned that a Europe-wide clash is more likely than ever. He emphasized Slovakia’s NATO membership but insisted he will act to keep the country out of any armed response triggered by Article 5. The leader also accused European capitals of seeking a pretext for a larger NATO-Russia confrontation. His remarks come ahead of a regional summit in western Ukraine that will host leaders from several neighboring states.
- Sep 17 A fourth Russian strike on the Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works wounded a worker.
- Sep 17 A Russian jet‑drone strike near the Polish‑Ukrainian border triggered air‑defence alerts and fighter scrambles.
- Sep 19 Tusk invoked NATO’s Article 4 and announced a trip to Kyiv.
- Sep 21 Czech President Petr Pavel’s war‑like comments sparked a rebuke from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
- Sep 23 A Russian army Mi-8 helicopter entered Polish airspace for about 42 seconds, penetrating roughly 300 metres past the border near Braniewo.
- Sep 24 Polish authorities have kept air‑defence systems on heightened alert.
- Sep 24 U.S. intelligence has warned that Russia could launch 600-km range drones from commercial vessels against targets in Spain, France and Italy.
- Sep 24 The briefing added that the drones may be catapulted from merchant ships 200‑300 km offshore.
- Sep 24 NATO boosted intelligence sharing and warned Spain, France and Italy of possible long‑range drone attacks launched from merchant vessels.
- Sep 27 Canada formally requested to join the Joint Expeditionary Force.
- Sep 28 Poland reported a fire at a Starlink ground station that officials suspect was intentional.
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