Belarusian helicopters violate Poland’s airspace, Warsaw confirms 

The press service of Poland’s Ministry of National Defense reported the information.

Poland's Defense Ministry claims that Polish airspace was violated by helicopters conducting exercises near the border. Minsk had previously informed Warsaw about these drills.

“The border crossing took place in the Białowieża area at a very low altitude, making it difficult to detect by radar systems,” the ministry said.

Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defense, chairman of the Committee for National Security and Defense Affairs, ordered to increase the number of soldiers on the border with Belarus and to allocate additional forces and resources, including combat helicopters. 

NATO was briefed on the incident.

In addition, the Committee for National Security and Defense Affairs agreed that the charge d'affaires of Belarus would be summoned to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the incident.

“We would like to remind you that Russia and Belarus have recently intensified hybrid activities against Poland. Due to possible further provocations, we call for responsible dissemination and commenting on information that may be used by the Russian and Belarusian regimes,” the statement concluded.

• On June 27, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the arrival of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the country. According to him, Wagner mercenaries  who arrived with him will not guard the Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed there. However, Lukashenko emphasized that he expects the mercenaries to help in the defense of Belarus, without specifying the potential source of the country's perceived threat.

• On July 8, Poland has deployed additional military forces to the border with Belarus, including over 1,000 troops and about 200 pieces of military equipment.

• Later, on July 23, self-appointed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced the desire of the mercenaries from the Russian Wagner PMC to "go on an excursion" to Poland. The same day, it was reported that the tenth column of Wagner's mercenaries, which included at least ten pieces of equipment, had arrived in Belarus.

• On July 27, the National Resistance Center reported that Wagner PMC units were looking for people in Belarus who were ready to fight against Lithuania and Poland. Also the same day Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported that the twelfth column of Wagner's PMC, which included at least 50 pieces of equipment, had arrived in Belarus.

• On July 28, 13th convoy of mercenaries with at least 80 vehicles arrived in Belarus. 

• On July 29, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that more than 100 Wagner fighters had gone to the Suwalki corridor.