Poland has accused Russia of sending a military helicopter into its airspace, prompting the country to scramble fighter jets and keep its ground forces on high alert. The incident involved a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, which crossed from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad into Polish territory on Wednesday morning. The aircraft entered approximately 300 meters (328 yards) north of the town of Braniewo and remained in Polish airspace for 42 seconds before leaving. Poland's military suggested the event could be a test of its air defense systems, though Russia has not yet officially commented on the incident. Recent tensions between Russia and several NATO countries have raised concerns that Moscow may be preparing attacks to gauge the alliance's commitment to supporting Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently denied any plans to attack NATO states, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that a European attack on Russia would lead to a "completely different war" — one that would be "very short." This rhetoric comes amid growing fears of hybrid warfare, which involves tactics like cyberattacks, sabotage, or misinformation to destabilize opponents without direct military confrontation. Poland's military confirmed the incursion occurred at 11:08 local time (09:08 GMT) and tracked the helicopter using radar. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several Russian drones and one unarmed missile have landed in Poland, despite the country not being a NATO member. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has suggested that Russia may be planning drone or missile strikes against Poland and other NATO nations on the eastern flank. He argued that these actions are meant to intimidate and weaken support for Ukraine, but emphasized that Poland would not be intimidated. French President Emmanuel Macron also reported being targeted by Russian hybrid attacks and has ordered plans to protect key infrastructure and defense industry sites. Hybrid warfare is often carried out through proxies or covert operations, and while Russia denies involvement, some European countries have pointed to suspicious incidents as evidence. Recent events include unexplained fires and explosions at defense-related facilities across several NATO countries. Germany, for instance, accused Russia of a drone attack at Leipzig airport, a claim Moscow dismissed as "absurd." Meanwhile, Lithuania has reportedly drawn up evacuation plans in response to Russian threats, although the country has pledged not to surrender if attacked. Ukraine has also claimed that a drone strike could have targeted a diplomatic train, while Russia stated it had attacked railway infrastructure in the region.