Poland shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace during a widespread attack on neighbouring Ukraine on Wednesday, marking the first time a NATO member has fired weapons during the three-year conflict.
The incident forced airports to close, prompted Warsaw to invoke NATO consultations, and drew warnings from Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “testing the West”.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a huge number of drones had crossed into Polish territory. Four were likely destroyed, with the last one brought down at 6:45am local time.
Poland asked NATO to invoke Article 4 of the alliance treaty, which allows urgent consultations when a member feels its security is under threat.
“Aircraft have used weapons against hostile objects. We are in constant contact with NATO command,” Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz posted on social media.
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'Act of agression'
Poland’s operational command said radars tracked more than 10 drone-type objects during the night. Those that could pose a threat were “neutralised”, the command said in a statement.
It added that searches for potential crash sites were under way and thanked NATO air command and Dutch F-35 fighters for assistance.
“This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens,” the command said.
Poland's government called an extraordinary cabinet meeting, while Warsaw’s Chopin Airport halted flights for several hours before reopening. The airport in Lublin, in eastern Poland, stayed closed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used 415 drones and 40 missiles in overnight attacks, adding that at least eight drones were aimed toward Poland.
“This marks an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe. A strong response is needed – and it can only be a joint response by all partners: Ukraine, Poland, all Europeans, the United States,” Zelensky said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X that Putin’s “sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes”.
He added: “The longer he faces no strength in response, the more aggressive he gets.” Sybiga warned that “a weak response now will provoke Russia even more – and then Russian missiles and drones will fly even further into Europe”.
A NATO spokesperson said chief Mark Rutte was in touch with Polish leaders and that the alliance was consulting closely with Warsaw.
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International response
French President Emmanuel Macron called the drone incursion “simply unacceptable” and said he would speak soon with Rutte. “We will not compromise on the safety of our allies,” wrote Macron on X.
European Council President Antonio Costa said the bloc stood “in full solidarity with Poland”, warning that Russian incursions posed “a direct threat to the safety of all Europeans”.
In Washington, Democratic senator Dick Durbin said Putin was “testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations”. Republican congressman Joe Wilson called the incident an “act of war” and urged President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions.
Russian drones and missiles have crossed into NATO airspace several times since the start of the war, but members had avoided firing on them. Last month, Poland said a Russian drone exploded in farmland after crossing the border.
In 2023, officials said a Russian missile crossed into Polish airspace to strike Ukraine. In November 2022, two civilians were killed when a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile struck a village near the border.
Poland hosts more than one million Ukrainian refugees and is a key transit point for Western humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.
(with newswires)
