Residents, commuters and visitors to the Mazowieckie region—including Warsaw’s corporate districts and Chopin Airport—received Government Centre for Security (RCB) text alerts on Monday morning announcing the start of “Syrena-26”, a civil-defence drill that will sound air-raid sirens at random intervals between 12 and 16 October. The warning message—“ALERT RCB: 12-16 X training of alarm and warning system. Do not panic”—aims to prevent false emergency calls and public anxiety. Sirens may be audible in office towers and hotels, and could coincide with rush-hour traffic or airport ground operations. Although primarily a domestic preparedness exercise, Syrena-26 has mobility implications. Airline ground handlers must adjust ramp procedures to avoid confusion with aircraft warning systems, while multinational employers are advised to brief expatriate staff unfamiliar with Poland’s alarm codes. During last year’s smaller drill, several business travellers mistakenly evacuated meeting venues, causing schedule disruptions. The exercise reflects Warsaw’s broader emphasis on civil-military readiness amid Russia’s war on Ukraine and the proliferation of drone and missile threats. Updated civil-protection guidance published in June 2026 recommends that companies keep hard-copy evacuation maps and stock basic emergency kits at worksites. No transport restrictions are foreseen, but city authorities caution that short traffic stops are possible if sirens coincide with firefighting rehearsals. Travellers should monitor @RCB_RP on X (Twitter) for real-time updates.
Source: Radio ESKA Warszawa
