Poland reports increased drone activity near Belarus border

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo via Reuters

WARSAW  -  Poland observed more drone activity near its border with Belarus during the night, the government said on Thursday, after closing the frontier ahead of Minsk's military drills with ally Russia.

NATO alliance and EU member Poland's concerns about the "Zapad" (West) war games were reinforced when some 21 Russian drones entered its airspace on the night of September 9-10.

Asked why the border was still closed given that the Zapad exercises had finished, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said Poland would reopen it when safe to do so. 

"Last night the Border Guard observed increased activity by Belarusian and Russian drones attempting to cross Polish airspace," he said. "It's clear that the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border remains very, very tense."

Kierwinski did not give further details. An Interior Ministry spokesperson said there was no Polish intervention or attempt to shoot down drones.

Belarus and Russia have strengthened ties during Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with Minsk allowing Moscow to send troops in via its territory. Poland has been one of Ukraine's biggest backers in the conflict. 

There are six road border crossings between Poland and Belarus, four of which Warsaw had already closed due to long-running frictions with Minsk.

Three rail border crossings for freight were also closed.

 (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne // REUTERS)