Tensions between Poland and Belarus have increased following reports that two helicopters violated the NATO country's airspace. Belarus has
Belarus (a client state of Russia) has violated the airspace of Poland (a NATO member).
Poland will send additional troops and military hardware to its eastern border after two Belarusian helicopters reportedly crossed into the NATO country's airspace Tuesday. "There was a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian helicopters that were training near the border," the Polish Defense Ministry said in a statement. Belarus dismissed the alleged violation as, "far-fetched." "Accusations of a violation of the Polish border by Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces are far-fetched and made by the Polish military and political leadership to justify the build-up of forces and means at the Belarusian border," Minsk said. Poland had inititially denied the incursion but then later said a "violation took place in the Bialowieza area at a very low altitude, hampering detection by radar systems." Minsk had informed Warsaw it intended to conduct training exercises in the area prior to the incident. Some Polish residents in the area had reported sighting Belarus helicopters overhead earlier in the day and posted photos and videos thereof on social media. Poland said NATO has been informed of the incursion.
If this is intentional, it's doubtful that it could have happened without Russia's approval.
Russia is desperate and may be hoping to distract NATO from Ukraine. Of course Putin has increasingly been a master of miscalculation. Today is Day 525 of his 3-day "special operation" in Ukraine.
