More US fighter jets arrive in Poland

Another eight U.S. F-15 fighter jets landed in Poland on Monday, according to the Polish defense minister, a move that comes as tensions over Russian military buildup outside Ukraine have reached a boiling point.

“More American F-15 fighters landed today at the base in Lask,” Mariusz Błaszczak wrote on Twitter alongside photos of the American aircraft. “Eight aircraft will join those that came to Poland last week.” 

U.S. European Command didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment as to where the F-15s were flown from. 

The extra jets will join an unspecified number of F-15s the U.S. military last week moved to Poland from the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, U.K. The jets are meant to work alongside Polish and Danish F-16 aircraft already working on an air policing mission under NATO.  

NATO has been scrambling to bolster its defenses as Russia has amassed roughly 130,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, sparking fears that the Kremlin may launch a military offensive into the ex-Soviet country.  

Moscow is now believed to have 100 battalion tactical groups near its border with Ukraine, with more on the way. The number of groups is up from 83 last week. 

In response, the U.S. is deploying or repositioning 6,000 troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, 4,700 of which are being sent to Poland.  

U.S. officials have continued to issue dire warnings on the situation, with Pentagon press secretary John Kirby telling “Fox News Sunday” that the “time component” for diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine “seems to be shrinking,” a revelation that he said “gives us all cause for concern.”