Polish investigators find domestic SIM cards inside downed Russian drones
Polish prosecutors discovered Polish SIM cards in several Russian drones shot down during a mass incursion on Sept. 9-10, but the probe was closed without identifying the perpetrators.
During a large-scale drone incursion over Poland on the night of Sept. 9-10, the Polish military shot down several Russian Gerbera-type unmanned aircraft. Forensic analysis revealed three Polish SIM cards among the debris, but officials did not disclose whether the cards were stolen or obtained illegally. Marcin Kozak of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin said the case was closed because the person who violated Polish airspace could not be identified.
The incursion is part of a broader pattern in which Russia allegedly relies on Belarusian LTE networks and repeater stations to maintain control of Shahed-type drones used against Ukraine. Polish leaders, including Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, have announced procedural changes to allow faster engagement of aerial threats without visual confirmation. The findings raise concerns about the security of domestic telecommunications infrastructure amid heightened regional tensions.
Why it matters
The discovery suggests possible misuse of Polish telecom assets in Russian drone operations, highlighting security gaps in a volatile border region.
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