Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in NATO Airspace Clash
Warsaw: Poland shot down several drones that violated its airspace during a massive Russian strike on Ukraine early Wednesday, in what officials described as a dangerous act of aggression against a NATO member state.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that both Polish and NATO air defenses were scrambled to intercept the drones, adding that he remained in “constant contact” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He convened an emergency cabinet meeting for 8 a.m. local time as the military warned citizens in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin to stay indoors.
“Some of the drones that entered our airspace were shot down,” the Polish military said, noting that radar tracked more than 10 objects. Search teams are now working to locate crash sites. Chopin Airport in Warsaw, the nation’s busiest hub, temporarily shut down along with three other airports as flights diverted to Katowice, Wroclaw, and Poznan.
The violation comes as most of Ukraine, including western regions bordering Poland, endured hours of overnight air raid sirens. Russia’s defense ministry has not yet commented.
U.S. and NATO Response
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was briefed on the situation, while lawmakers in Washington sharply condemned Moscow. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “testing NATO’s resolve,” while Republican Representative Joe Wilson called the drone strike an “act of war” and urged President Donald Trump to impose crippling sanctions.
Trump, who recently hosted Putin for a summit in August, signaled over the weekend that his administration may move to a tougher “second phase” of sanctions. Meanwhile, EU officials in Washington are working with the U.S. on what could be the first coordinated sanctions package since Trump returned to office.
Rising Tensions in the Region
The incident marks the first time Poland’s defenses have directly engaged hostile drones, though the country has remained on alert since a stray Ukrainian missile killed two people in 2022.
Adding to tensions, Poland announced it would close its border with Belarus on Thursday night as Russia and Belarus begin large-scale “Zapad” military drills. Neighboring Lithuania also pledged to strengthen defenses along its borders.
Former U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges said the incursions were “intentional tests” of NATO’s readiness. “We need to be able to respond effectively each time,” he warned.
