Air alerts and airspace closures: Baltics and Poland

Latest alerts and airspace incidents

How alerts work in each country

Poland: Alert RCB and Operational Command statements

Alert RCB is a message sent to every mobile phone in range of base stations in the threatened area. Nobody needs to register, it is free on every network, and it cannot be switched off. The smallest area an alert can target is one county (powiat). The RCB now also sends alerts when Polish aircraft are scrambled because of Russian strikes on western Ukraine. These are warnings of a possible danger, not of a confirmed one. The usual text in the issues reads: "Russian air attack in Ukraine. Situation monitored. Polish aircraft operating in Polish airspace. Await further updates". It is followed by a cancellation saying there is no threat on the territory of Poland. In September and early October 2026 such alerts went mostly to the Lublin and Subcarpathian (Podkarpackie) provinces. Separately, from 10 September to 9 December 2026 a restricted zone, EP R134, covers eastern Poland. At night it bans flights below about 3 km, except military drones and pre-agreed operations, and it does not affect airliners at cruising altitude.

Lithuania: yellow, red and white

Lithuania's air alerts are run by the Ministry of National Defence and the Fire and Rescue Department, and the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) announces them. Yellow ("probable air danger") means no dangerous object is yet over Lithuania but one may arrive. Red ("air alert") means an unidentified object is in the airspace or very likely to enter it. White means the danger is over. Messages go to phones in the affected area in Lithuanian and English, and LT72.lt explains how to enable English alerts. Nationwide sirens are tested on a schedule. The last test in the issues ran on 29 September 2026, 11:52–11:55.

Latvia: yellow and orange

Since 23 May 2026 the NBS has used two levels of cell-broadcast alert. Yellow reports a possible threat in Latvian airspace and needs no immediate action. Orange reports a detected threat and means acting on the instructions at once. The alerts are aimed at municipalities near the eastern border, such as Ludza, Alūksne and Krāslava.

Estonia: EE-ALARM

The Defence Forces issue air-threat warnings through EE-ALARM. A possible air threat means drones may enter Estonian airspace but there is no direct danger: carry on with daily life and keep your phone charged. A direct threat means shelter immediately, and sirens may sound.

What typically triggers an alert

Russian strikes on western Ukraine. Most Polish RCB alerts and scrambles in autumn 2026 came from Russian drone and missile attacks near the Polish border. On 13 September drones struck 0.8–2 km from the border. On 17 and 28 September jet drones came down a few kilometres from it near Yahodyn and Dorohusk. Polish airspace was reported as not violated each time.
Drones that stray off course. On 1 September drones that had strayed during the Russia–Ukraine war set off alerts in eastern Latvia and Estonia, and NATO F-16s were scrambled from Ämari. On 15 September Italian NATO Eurofighters shot down a drone over Lithuania near Pratkūnai, the first such shoot-down over Lithuanian territory. On 14 August a drone was downed over Latvia's Balvi municipality.
Smuggling balloons and radar contacts from Belarus. These are the usual reason Vilnius Airport is closed. In late October 2025 operations stopped four times in one week. On the night of 21–22 September 2026 Lietuvos oro uostai restricted flights from 23:25 to 02:40, affecting 17 flights. On 3 October 2026 a yellow alert over a contact from Belarus covered Vilnius County and was cancelled about 50 minutes later. The object was not found.
Russian aircraft near Baltic airspace. NATO's Baltic Air Policing fighters regularly scramble to identify and escort Russian aircraft flying without transponders or flight plans. These are routine intercepts and do not trigger public alerts.

What to do when an alert comes

Follow the instructions in the message itself; the guidance below is a summary of the official advice.

Yellow / possible threat (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia): no need to shelter. Stay calm, find the nearest safe place, follow official updates and be ready to act.
Red / orange / direct threat: go indoors at once, close windows and doors, and put at least two walls between yourself and the outside. A bathroom, stairwell or basement works. If you are outside, look for cover or lie down and protect your head. Estonia advises against sheltering in a car.
Alert RCB about strikes on Ukraine (Poland): this is a heads-up. Follow updates from the RCB and the Operational Command and wait for the cancellation.
If you see a drone or debris: do not approach it, call 112, and do not film it or post its location on social media.
Afterwards: wait for the all-clear (white in Lithuania, the cancellation message in Poland) before leaving shelter.

Frequently asked questions

Why was there an RCB alert in Poland today?

In almost every case recorded since September 2026, the RCB sent the alert because Russia was striking western Ukraine and Polish aircraft were scrambled as a precaution. The alert means a possible danger near the border, not an attack on Poland. It is usually cancelled within minutes to a few hours.

Why is Vilnius airport closed?

Usually because balloons, drones or unidentified radar contacts have come in from Belarus, and air traffic is halted until the airspace is clear. Closures typically last from under an hour to a few hours. For a specific flight, check Lietuvos oro uostai and your airline.

What does an air-raid alert in Lithuania mean?

A red alert ("oro pavojus") means an unidentified, possibly dangerous object is in or about to enter Lithuanian airspace. Go to the nearest shelter or a room behind two walls right away. A yellow alert means only that a threat is possible.

Is Polish or Baltic airspace closed?

No. Airliners fly normally. Restrictions are local and temporary: night-time limits in Poland's EP R134 zone near the eastern border, and short halts at Vilnius or Kaunas airports during incidents.

Has a drone been shot down over the Baltic states?

Yes. NATO fighters shot one down over Latvia on 14 August 2026 and one over Lithuania on 15 September 2026. Lithuanian and Latvian authorities say both were drones knocked off course during the Russia–Ukraine war.

Where can I check if there is a drone alert in Estonia or Latvia today?

In Estonia: EE-ALARM messages, the Eesti.ee and Ole valmis! apps, and ERR. In Latvia: cell-broadcast messages, mil.lv and the National Armed Forces' social media.

Sources

This page is maintained alongside the daily digests; the alert feed and the list of related issues above update automatically.