Soldiers to appear at 15 Polish civilian airports. The army will support Ukraine

• Polish civilian airports are preparing for a dual role, serving both civilian and military traffic.
• The changes are a response to Poland's growing role in logistical support for Ukraine and NATO.
• Passengers may notice the presence of military aircraft, but daily airport operations should not be disrupted.

In preparation for a possible worsening of the international situation, 15 Polish civilian airports are to be adapted to serve the military. This is a change that could affect the daily operations of airports. It may soon happen that military transport planes or fighters will appear on the runways alongside civilian planes.

Maciej Lasek, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Government Plenipotentiary for the Construction of the Central Communication Port, in an interview with RMF FM journalist Michał Dobrołowicz confirmed that talks are underway with the Ministry of National Defence regarding the dual use of airports.

We are talking about Polish airports serving both civilian and military functions. We have 15 of them, which is a significant number, and the military can use them flexibly.

-he noted.

According to the plans, so-called military transport hubs, evacuation points, humanitarian aid locations, and cargo warehouses may be created at civilian airports. Among the cities that are already preparing for these changes are Rzeszów, Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław, and Szczecin.

The preparatory work aims to provide the infrastructure that will enable the smooth functioning of these dual roles - civilian and military.

The changes are justified in the context of the geopolitical and security situation. Poland plays a key role in supporting Ukraine, both militarily and logistically. Some of these activities may require the use of airport infrastructure.

According to information provided by Donald Tusk before leaving for the meeting in Paris, Poland does not plan to send troops to Ukraine, but is preparing to provide logistical support to other countries involved in the conflict.

Poland has also become one of the main points of transfer of military equipment to Ukraine, and also hosts NATO units that monitor the situation in the region. Some military aircraft monitor the airspace over the Baltic Sea, while others operate in the region of Ukraine, taking part in reconnaissance and patrol missions.

While these changes may affect the overall organization of airport traffic, authorities assure that passengers should not experience any major disruptions. Civil and military traffic will be managed separately, and military operations should not disrupt the daily functioning of airports.