Poland is the closest to open conflict it has been since World War Two, the country’s Prime Minister has warned after the country shot down drones that entered its airspace during a widespread attack in western Ukraine.
"I have no reason to claim we're on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it's incomparably more dangerous than before," Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.
"This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two".
Mr Tusk has said he is in "constant contact" with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte following the “unprecedented” assault.
Authorities found seven drones and the remains of an unidentified object in sites across the country, an interior ministry spokeswoman said.
Sir Keir Starmer slammed “reckless” Russian President Vladimir Putin following the attack, which he described as “barbaric” and an “egregious and unprecedented violation of Polish and NATO airspace”.
“This was an extremely reckless move by Russia and only serves to remind us of President Putin’s blatant disregard for peace, and the constant bombardment innocent Ukrainians face every day,” the Prime Minister said.
"I have been in touch with the Polish Prime Minister this morning to make clear our support for Poland, and that we will stand firm in our support for Ukraine.”
Drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace during the Russian attack across the border, according to Poland's military command.
Radars tracked more than 10 objects and those that could pose a threat were "neutralised," the command added.
“Some of the drones that entered our airspace were shot down. Searches and efforts to locate the potential crash sites of these objects are ongoing,” it said in a statement.
It urged people to stay at home, naming the regions of Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin as most at risk, adding: "This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens."
The overnight Russian attack on Ukraine involved 415 drones, one ballistic missile and 42 cruise missiles, the Ukrainian air force said.
It intercepted 386 drones and 27 cruise missiles. "At least eight enemy UAVs crossed the Ukrainian state border flying in Poland's direction," the air force added in a statement.
Russia's defence ministry did not immediately comment.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is understood to have been briefed.
Since Russia’s full scale invasion began in 2022, there have been several incidents of Russian drones entering the airspace of states bordering Ukraine, including Poland and Romania, but they have so far avoided shooting them down.
Officials have cited the physical danger that such actions could cause and a desire to avoid an escalation in tensions between Russia and NATO.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the violations of Poland's airspace showed Putin was expanding his war and testing the West.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, called the incident "an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe".
"The Russians must feel the consequences,” he said. “Russia must feel that the war cannot be expanded and will have to be ended.
"The pause in sanctions has gone on far too long.” He added that "a strong response is needed" from Ukraine's allies.
Defence Secretary John Healey is hosting his counterparts from Poland, France, Italy and Germany in London today. A press conference with all five ministers is due to take place this afternoon.
Chopin airport in Warsaw, the country's largest, closed its airspace for several hours before reopening. It said there would be disruptions and delays through the day.
Most of Ukraine, including western regions of Volyn and Lviv which border Poland, had been under air raid alerts for most of the night according to Ukraine's air force.
In the United States, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones were a sign that "Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations."
"After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored," he said on X.
