On September 23, a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter from the Kaliningrad region briefly entered Polish airspace near the Braniewo area. Polish military officials confirmed that the aircraft was "tracked by radar systems" and that "fighter jets were put on alert." The Polish Operational Command stated that Russia had "once again tested the readiness of our air defense." This was not the first time such an incident had occurred. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Poland has experienced multiple instances of foreign aircraft entering its airspace, with some incidents resulting in missile crashes on Polish soil. In November 2022, a Ukrainian air defense missile crashed in Przewodów, killing two people, and shortly after, a similar incident occurred in the Bydgoszcz area. The most serious event took place in September 2025, when nineteen Russian attack drones violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine. Several of these drones were shot down by NATO F-35A jets. More recently, a Russian Baltic fleet helicopter briefly flew over Polish territorial waters, and a Su-24MR aircraft was detected near Gdansk Bay. According to Russian explanations, the Su-24MR was the result of a "navigation malfunction." These incidents have prompted Poland to reconsider its air defense engagement rules. This week, Poland's Deputy Minister of Defense, Cezary Tomczyk, stated that the Russian threat necessitates adapting procedures to ensure that fighter pilots have confidence in their actions and are supported by their country in all situations. As a result, during an airspace violation, Polish pilots will no longer need to visually identify potential targets. Instead, radar data indicating a possible intrusion into an air exclusion zone will be sufficient to decide whether to open fire. This change, aimed at enabling faster responses to threats, especially from fast-moving drones, comes from lessons learned in the conflict in Ukraine. An incident on July 30 highlights the need for caution. A Russian Kh-101 cruise missile crashed in Tarnawa-Kolonia, in the Lublin region, after being tracked by a Polish F-16. At the same time, a Ukrainian MiG-29 was flying near the border. General Ireneusz Nowak, Chief of Staff of the Polish Air Force, recently mentioned in Rzeczpospolita that neither the command nor the F-16 pilot could identify the Ukrainian aircraft moving near the Polish border. He noted that there was a risk of friendly fire, as both Polish F-16s and air defense systems were tracking the aircraft. Nowak added that if the Ukrainian pilot had been distracted for 30 seconds, he might have entered Polish airspace, potentially leading to a decision to open fire.