Poland’s air force deployed jets to protect its airspace from Russian missiles targeting western Ukraine.
Air force patrols took place on Saturday in southeast Poland, which borders Ukraine.
While Poland was not affected, a Russian strike on a large DIY store in Kharkiv, northern Ukraine, resulted in 12 deaths and 43 injuries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the airstrike, calling it a "manifestation of Russian madness."
Poland's Operational Command announced the end of the defensive operation on Sunday but emphasized that its forces remain vigilant.
"With the cessation of long-range missile strikes by the Russian Federation on western Ukraine, military aviation operations in Polish airspace have concluded, and the deployed forces have returned to standard operational activities," it stated on X.
"The #PolishArmy continuously monitors the situation in Ukraine and remains ready to ensure the safety of Polish airspace."
In a statement on Saturday, Poland's military mentioned that locals might notice increased noise from Polish and allied aircraft. The army assured that all necessary measures had been taken to secure Poland's airspace.
Additionally, on Saturday, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that Russia aims to destabilize Europe. He alleged that Moscow is attempting to influence the outcome of the upcoming European parliamentary elections in June.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has heightened security concerns in the region, with eastern European countries wary of a revisionist Kremlin.
In March, Warsaw put its forces on alert when a Russian missile entered Polish airspace before striking Ukraine’s western Lviv region.
Poland has also increased its military presence on its western border with Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.
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