Polish fighter aircraft were scrambled Wednesday after a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter briefly violated Polish airspace near the town of Braniewo, north of the border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.

The Polish Army Operational Command reported that the helicopter crossed into Polish territory at 11:08 a.m. local time, penetrating to a maximum depth of about 300 meters and remaining inside for 42 seconds before returning to Kaliningrad. Radar systems tracked the aircraft throughout the short incursion.

In response, Poland scrambled fighter jets and kept ground-based air defense forces on standby. The command stated that the incident showed Russia was once again testing the readiness of Polish air defenses.

Poland has maintained heightened vigilance along its eastern border amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Several Russian drones and at least one unarmed missile have entered Polish airspace since the invasion began in 2022.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned last week that Russia may be planning further provocations, including drone or missile strikes on NATO's eastern flank, which Moscow could attempt to portray as accidents. The latest breach follows recent statements from Polish officials highlighting Moscow's pattern of hybrid warfare tactics.

Russia has not commented on the incident. Previous violations near Kaliningrad have involved Russian aircraft flying over Polish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.

The episode underscores ongoing tensions on NATO's eastern flank, where Poland and other allies have bolstered defenses in support of Ukraine and in response to Russian military activity.