The German Air Force has relocated fighter jets, the Eurofighter, to Poland to provide increased protection for NATO’s eastern flank due to the threat of Russia.

It announced that several Eurofighters took off from Nörvenich Air Base, which were set to land at the Polish military airfield in Malbork.

This stationing is a direct response to recent airspace violations by Russian fighter jets in the Baltic Sea region and the entry of kamikaze drones into NATO territory, according to German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost.

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) had already announced the step in mid-October.

The Inspector of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, explained the basis for the mission.

“With this mission, our soldiers are making another valuable contribution to protecting the eastern alliance area, in addition to our alarm squad that has been stationed in Romania since August. We are hereby sending another strong signal of support to our neighboring country Poland and NATO as a whole,” he said.

The German Air Force was previously present at the Polish military airfield in Malbork in August and September with fighter aircraft.

Malbork is located around 60 kilometers southeast of Gdańsk and 80 kilometers from the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.

The Bundeswehr is deploying a force of about 150 men and women alongside the aircraft. This group includes pilots, as well as technicians, logisticians, and military police.

The stationing is initially planned to last until March.