Poland says two Belarusian helicopters violated its airspace

Two Belarusian helicopters violated Poland’s airspace on Tuesday, the Polish National Defense Ministry has reported.

According to the ministry’s statement, the helicopters were part of a military training exercise that the Belarusian authorities had informed Poland about in advance. The incursion occurred near the village of Białowieża, and the vehicles’ low altitude made it difficult for radar systems to detect them, the agency said.

Polish National Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has ordered for more soldiers to be deployed on the border and for additional resources, including military helicopters, to be allocated to defense efforts there, according to the ministry.

The statement also noted that NATO has officially been informed of the incident and that Poland’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Belarusian charges d'affaires to explain the incident.