On Friday, 28 November 2025, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) announced that it had extended until 9 March 2026 the restrictions on free use of part of Polish airspace by renewing the EP R129 restricted zone along the border with Ukraine and Belarus. The extension was introduced at the request of the Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ).
Map: PANSA
The previous restriction was introduced on 10 September this year after Russian Gerbera drones intruded into Poland and was set to expire on 9 December.
The restrictions were imposed due to the need to ensure state security, in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 18 January 2019 on flight restrictions for a period not exceeding three months.
The restrictions do not apply to passenger aviation, as the restriction level is FL095, meaning the zone extends from the ground up to an altitude of about 3 km. The zone reaches between 26 and 50 km into the country, depending on the location.
Rules:
- GA aviation (mainly small and recreational aircraft) may operate during the day provided a flight plan is submitted and the aircraft is equipped with a radio and a transponder;
- ight operations of this type are prohibited;
- military aircraft operations are permitted, as are flights conducted under the GARDA and ALPHA SCRAMBLE procedures, and operations with HEAD, STATE, SAR, HOSP, MEDEVAC, or FFR status;
- civilian unmanned aircraft (UAS) operations are permitted during the day, provided they do not violate the Belarus ADIZ and Ukraine ADIZ (air defense identification zones); night flights remain prohibited.
Following coordination with the Duty Operational Service of the Air Operations Center – Air Component Command, it is also possible to conduct operations by state aviation and air ambulance services, as well as operations carried out to provide assistance in cases where human or animal life or health is at risk, including in particular during natural disasters, accidents, ecological threats, or emergency situations, as well as activities related to the protection and monitoring of critical infrastructure.
As a rule, restrictions in the airspace over eastern Poland are a regular practice, introduced at the request of the military since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
PAŻP przedłużyła do 9 marca 2026 r. ograniczenia w swobodnym korzystaniu z części polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej poprzez odnowienie strefy ograniczonej EP R129 wzdłuż granicy z Ukrainą i Białorusią. Przedłużenie nastąpiło na wniosek DORSZ.
Więcej: https://t.co/dcotCPytkL pic.twitter.com/o0JwXFOgPY— PANSA (@PANSA_PL) November 28, 2025
https://twitter.com/DowOperSZ/status/1995407108238372950
