At least three Russian drones were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft in Poland's airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He reported that Poland had recorded 19 drone incursions, with some drones flying close enough to close four airports, including Warsaw's main hub, Chopin. Tusk emphasized that this brings Poland closest to open conflict since World War Two, marking the first time Russian drones have been downed over NATO territory since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In response to the escalating threat, the Polish military reacted swiftly, with aircraft dispatched to the operation area, including F-35 and F-16s, and ground-based air defense systems were set to high alert. Tusk also discussed invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for urgent consultations among member states. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed there was no intention to target Polish facilities, while Belarus stated that the drones might have crossed into Poland accidentally. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern over the drone violations on social media, highlighting the international ramifications of this incident, which poses a "dangerous precedent" for Europe.
In response to the escalating threat, the Polish military reacted swiftly, with aircraft dispatched to the operation area, including F-35 and F-16s, and ground-based air defense systems were set to high alert. Tusk also discussed invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for urgent consultations among member states. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed there was no intention to target Polish facilities, while Belarus stated that the drones might have crossed into Poland accidentally. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern over the drone violations on social media, highlighting the international ramifications of this incident, which poses a "dangerous precedent" for Europe.
