Ukrainian Black Hawks over Poland

The text was originally published on the Defence24.pl website.

Why did they appear in Poland? So far, there is no official information explaining the purpose of this visit. In an interview with Defence24.pl, Lt. Col. Jacek Goryszewski, spokesman for the Armed Forces Operational Command, confirmed that the Armed Forces Operational Commander had approved the flight on the basis of his authority. However, the purpose and nature of the flight remain classified information.

The Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, acting within his authority, has granted permission for Ukrainian helicopters to fly through Polish airspace. However, the nature and purpose of the flight remain classified information
Lieutenant Colonel Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for the Armed Forces Operational Command

Black Hawks could transport people, documents, or equipment requiring the highest level of security, which cannot be provided by ordinary transport channels. Rzeszów has long been the main logistical base for military support to Ukraine, so it seems natural that they landed there. It is also possible that the helicopters arrived in connection with the coordination of activities with the allied side or operational meetings. Purely technical reasons cannot be ruled out either – Poland offers maintenance facilities and spare parts that are difficult to find in Ukraine under wartime conditions.

HUR is one of the most active units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It was this unit that was the first to introduce American Black Hawks into service, gradually replacing the post-Soviet Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. The first UH-60A arrived in Ukraine in 2023 thanks to a private purchase, and another one appeared a year later. In March 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that at least two such helicopters were already in service. These were the ones that visited Poland.

Although the number of machines is small, their importance is disproportionately large. The Black Hawk is a design proven in special operations and troop transport, and Ukrainian pilots emphasize that they could quickly adapt to operating even several dozen units. It should be added that these are used helicopters and their cost would not be high, but larger deliveries of Black Hawks to Ukraine were opposed by the Biden administration.

It should be noted that there have been previous cases of Ukrainian Armed Forces aircraft entering NATO airspace (and returning to Ukraine) during the full-scale war. Among other things, at the turn of February and March 2022, a Ukrainian Su-27 first entered Romania and shortly thereafter, after landing at the local airport, returned to the country by air, without any weapons under its wings. Nevertheless, this is the first known case of Ukrainian military reconnaissance helicopters entering NATO airspace.