Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace during a large-scale Russian attack on western Ukraine on Wednesday, with Warsaw calling the incursion “an act of aggression” and marking the first time a NATO member has fired weapons in the conflict.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland’s skies had been violated by a significant number of Russian drones, and those posing a direct threat were destroyed.
A NATO spokesperson said Secretary-General Mark Rutte was in contact with Polish leadership and that the alliance was consulting closely with Warsaw.
Russian drones neutralised
Poland’s military command reported that drones repeatedly crossed its airspace during the Russian assault across the border.
Radar tracked more than 10 objects, with those deemed threatening “neutralised.” Operations against the violations have since concluded, it said.
“Searches and efforts to locate the potential crash sites of these objects are ongoing,” the command said in a statement, while thanking NATO air command and Dutch F-35 fighters for assistance.
Authorities urged residents in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin to remain at home, describing the incident as a real danger to citizens.
The airport in Lublin, eastern Poland, remained closed, and officials warned of disruptions throughout the day.
Regional escalation risks
States bordering Ukraine, including Poland and Romania, have previously refrained from shooting down Russian drones, citing physical risks and concerns over escalating tensions between Moscow and NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched 415 drones and 40 missiles in overnight attacks, adding that at least eight were directed toward Poland.
He described the incursions as “an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe” and called for a collective response by Ukraine, Poland, other European partners, and the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected suggestions that Russia might attack NATO members, saying such claims are aimed at portraying Moscow as an enemy.
Russia has insisted it does not seek conflict with the alliance.
Most of Ukraine, including the border regions Volyn and Lviv, faced prolonged air raid alerts overnight, according to its air force.
US response
In Washington, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said repeated violations of NATO airspace showed Putin was testing allied resolve.
“After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored,” he posted on X.
Republican Representative Joe Wilson, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also wrote on X that Russia was “attacking NATO ally Poland” with drones, calling the incident an “act of war.”
Russia is attacking NATO ally Poland with Iranian shahed drones less than a week after President Trump hosted President Nawrocki at the White House. This is an act of war, and we are grateful to NATO allies for their swift response to war criminal Putin’s continued unprovoked
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He urged US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions to “bankrupt the Russian war machine.”
Trump, who hosted Putin at a summit in August, said over the weekend he was prepared to move to a second phase of sanctions after months of inconclusive talks on a peace deal.
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