Swedish Air Force Personnel awarded Medals of the Polish Armed Forces
08.09.2026
)n 2 September 2026, the Defence Attaché's Office at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Stockholm held a ceremony to present Medals of the Polish Armed Forces to Swedish service members who had taken part in NATO's Air Policing mission in Poland, contributing to the protection of Polish airspace. The event was attended by representatives of the Polish and Swedish Armed Forces and public administration, including Mr Peter Sandwall, State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Defence; Major General Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish Air Force; and Rear Admiral Przemysław Karaś, Deputy Commander of the Maritime Operations Centre - Maritime Component Command.
By decision of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, 54 members of the Swedish Air Force – commanders, pilots and ground personnel – received Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals of the Polish Armed Forces, presented by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Kingdom of Sweden, Ms Karolina Ostrzyniewska.
“Today’s ceremony is not merely a formal recognition of the participation of Swedish service members in a NATO operation, nor simply another expression of the excellent relations and deep friendship between Poland and Sweden. Above all, it is an opportunity to express our profound gratitude for your mission in Poland,” said Poland’s Ambassador to Sweden, Karolina Ostrzyniewska.
From April until the end of August 2025, Swedish JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter aircraft, operating from the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, took part in NATO’s Air Policing mission, patrolling Polish airspace. Swedish pilots also contributed to the protection of the airspace over the key logistics hub in the Rzeszów area, through which assistance is delivered to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression. This was the first mission of its kind undertaken by the Swedish Armed Forces since Sweden joined NATO in 2024.
Major General Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish Air Force, highlighted the support provided by Poland during the mission.
“Poland, as the host nation, provided us with everything we needed to carry out the mission. We greatly appreciate your support before, during and after the deployment of our forces,” said Major General Wikman.
The medal ceremony was held in conjunction with celebrations marking Polish Armed Forces Day at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Stockholm. The event was attended, among others, by Mr Peter Sandwall, State Secretary at the Swedish Ministry of Defence, representatives of key Swedish institutions responsible for security and defence, and members of the Military Diplomatic Corps representing more than 20 countries.
Both events featured an exhibition by the Dorastaj z Nami Foundation entitled “To you, it was a soldier, a firefighter, a police officer – for me, it was my dad”, portraying members of the uniformed services from the perspective of those closest to them. The exhibition highlights the distinctive ethos of public service while also drawing attention to its human dimension – reminding us that behind every uniform stands a person, and that their sacrifice and loss also profoundly affect those closest to them.
The ceremonial setting was complemented by a performance by The Swedish Mounted Band of the Royal Life Guards.
