Russia sends military helicopter into NATO airspace north of Braniewo to 'test' Polish air defences
From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 24 September 2026.
A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter, the same type that crossed 300 metres into Polish territory near Braniewo on Wednesday, spending 42 seconds inside NATO airspace before returning to Kaliningrad.
A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter violated Polish airspace for 42 seconds on Wednesday morning, flying from the Kaliningrad exclave and penetrating roughly 300 metres across the border north of Braniewo. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has separately warned citizens to stock supplies and identify shelters near their homes.
The Mi-8 was tracked by Polish radar from the moment it crossed the border — Poland says it was ready throughout.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned last week that Russia could launch hybrid drone and missile strikes against NATO nations supporting Ukraine in the coming weeks, disguising them as accidents.
Today's breach is the first publicly reported case of a Russian military helicopter crossing Poland's land border, following earlier incursions by a Su-24 bomber and a naval helicopter.
