{"id":176070,"date":"2026-02-17T16:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T13:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176070\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"poland-reports-balloon-incursions-from-belarus-two-nights-in-row","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176070\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland reports balloon incursions from Belarus two nights in row"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

February 17, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>New incidents in which objects resembling balloons entered the Polish airspace from Belarus were recorded on February 16 and 17, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like it was the case on February 16, the objects detected early on February 17 \u201cwere identified and monitored by military intelligence systems in real time,\u201d the Operational Command said. The situation was completely under control, and the incident did not pose threats to civil aviation, the report noted. The invasion of the Polish airspace did not differ from the incidents recently seen at the Polish-Belarusian border, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Operational Command cooperates with services responsible for state security, providing them on a regular basis with information that allows them to respond promptly, including by intercepting the invading objects and apprehending individuals suspected of involvement in these incidents, the report said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since late January, Poland has recorded eight series of airspace violations from Belarus: on January 28, January 31, February 1 and 2, February 4, February 9, and on February 16 and 17. In all cases, the objects were identified as weather balloons that cigarette smugglers use to deliver contraband goods from the Belarusian territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 22, the Polish foreign ministry summoned a Belarusian diplomat to demand explanations in connection with an incursion by 150 balloons \u2013 most or all carrying smuggled cigarettes \u2013 on January 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 1,750,000 cigarettes smuggled into the Polish territory from Belarus using balloons were detected in Poland in January, reported the Polish Border Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seized cigarettes are estimated at around 1,780,000 zlotys, or around $497,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operations to detect such contraband were reportedly carried out together with the Operational Command of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balloon incursions have been a source of tensions between Belarus and Lithuania. In late 2025, Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency, in response to what it described as a \u201chybrid attack from Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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