UPDATE - Poland imposes flight ban as UN Security Council to convene over airspace violation

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By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting at Poland’s request following Russia’s violation of Polish airspace, as Warsaw imposes new air traffic restrictions along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

"Following Poland's request, a UN Security Council emergency meeting will be convened regarding the violation of Polish airspace by Russia," the ministry wrote on US social media company X.

Meanwhile, Poland has imposed air traffic restrictions along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine following multiple Russian drone incursions into its airspace, the Armed Forces' Operational Command announced.

The Polish Air Navigation Agency said the restrictions, which took effect late Wednesday, will remain in place until Dec. 9, TVP World reported.

The move comes a day after Poland shot down suspected Russian drones with the support of NATO aircraft, the first time a member of the alliance is known to have fired shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

"At the request of the Operational Command of the Branches of the Armed Forces, air traffic restrictions will be introduced in the eastern part of Poland in the form of the restricted zone EP R129," the agency said in a statement.

Under the measures, flights from sunrise to sunset are prohibited in the restricted zone, except for manned aircraft operating under a flight plan with appropriate transponders and two-way communication with air authorities.

Military flights and other special-purpose operations are exempted.

"From sunset to sunrise, there is a total ban on flights, with the exception of military aircraft," the statement added, noting that civilian unmanned aircraft are banned around the clock in the EP R129 zone.

The restrictions come amid heightened security concerns in the NATO member state after Wednesday’s drone incident, which prompted Warsaw to step up coordination with allies.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its drones had carried out a large-scale strike on military targets in western Ukraine but denied any intention to hit Polish territory.