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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- September 10, 2025 07:43
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Poland activated its air defenses and NATO to shoot down drones in its airspace on Wednesday after a Russian airstrike on Ukraine, marking the first time Warsaw has become involved in its neighbor's war.
Poland has called the violation an act of aggression.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that operations are continuing and that he is in "constant contact" with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Tusk has called an emergency meeting of the council of ministers at 8:00 a.m., a government spokesman said.
Poland's military command has said drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace during the Russian attack across the border in western Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Radars tracked more than 10 objects and those that could pose a threat were "neutralized," the command said.
"Some of the drones that entered our airspace were shot down. Searches and efforts to find the possible crash sites of these objects are ongoing," she said in a statement.
Warsaw's Chopin Airport, the country's largest, announced that its airspace has been closed due to military action.
Much of Ukraine, including the western regions of Volyn and Lviv that border Poland, have been under airstrike alerts for almost the entire night, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Meanwhile, several NATO member countries located near the border with Russia have issued statements expressing solidarity and concerns.
Experts identify drones used by Russia in Poland
Three analysts contacted by the BBC have identified images of a largely intact drone in a field near the eastern Polish village of Czosnówka as a Gerbera, a multi-role unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) widely used by Russia as decoys to distract air defence systems during large-scale attacks on Ukraine.
Polish officials said Wednesday morning that 19 Russian drones entered the country's airspace overnight.
Justin Crump, chief executive of the company Sibylline, said Gerbera is "an inexpensive way to increase the capability of other drones."
He has said that Moscow typically uses it in conjunction with Shahed/Geran-2 drones when launching attacks on Ukrainian troops and cities.
Meanwhile, Justin Bronk - an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute (Russia) - told the BBC that the drones remained largely intact as they likely ran out of fuel after moving a considerable distance, rather than being shot down by Polish air defences or NATO allies.
Both analysts say the scale of the incursion suggests it was likely a deliberate act by Russia.
Germany says Russia's actions in Poland were a provocation
Germany's representative, Jens Plötner, said during a meeting of the E5 group of countries on Wednesday that Russia's latest action was a "targeted provocation" against Poland and NATO "as a whole."
He has said that the E5 group will not be "provoked into hasty actions."
After Wednesday's meeting, Plötner added that the countries are sending a message of unity in support of Ukraine.
He said the meeting is a "catalyst for new ideas and an engine of change."
The E5 group of countries consists of Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Britain.
Britain aims to strengthen Poland's air defenses
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said he had asked the British armed forces to look at options to strengthen air defences over Poland.
He said Russia had reached "a new level of hostility" overnight. He described the Russian actions as dangerous and unprecedented.
He said NATO is committed to defending Poland and "to further strengthen the defense of Ukraine."
"We are seeing what Putin is doing - he is testing us again and we are standing firm again," he said at a joint conference with representatives of Italy, Germany, France and Poland.
US reacts to violation of Polish airspace: We support NATO allies
Photo: Associated Press
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has said Washington supports its NATO allies after Russian "violations" of Polish airspace on Wednesday.
Posting on social media, Whitaker said the US "will defend every inch of NATO territory."
"We support our NATO allies in the face of these airspace violations," he said.
Russian Defense Ministry says it had no targets in Poland
Photo: Associated Press
Russia's Defense Ministry has said it had no plans to strike any targets in Poland, after Warsaw said 19 Russian drones entered its airspace during overnight strikes in western Ukraine.
"No objects on Polish territory were planned to be targeted. The maximum range of the UAVs used in the attack on Ukraine does not exceed 700 km," the Russian ministry said in a response.
She added that they are ready to talk with the Polish Ministry of Defense.
"However, we are ready to hold consultations with the Polish Ministry of Defense on this topic," the statement further said.
Rutte: We will defend every inch of NATO territory
Mark Rutte
Photo: Associated Press
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones on Wednesday, whether intentional or not, is reckless and dangerous.
"To Putin, my message is clear: stop the war in Ukraine, stop the escalation of the war, which he is now essentially waging on innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure, and stop the violation of allied airspace. Know that we are ready, that we are vigilant and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory," Rutte said in his response.
He said he considered last night's response "very successful."
"We always have to make sure we are one step ahead, but I think last night showed that we are able to defend every inch of NATO territory, including, of course, its airspace," Rutte added.
Poland is closest to open conflict since World War II, says Tusk
Photo: Associated Press
Poland is the closest it has come to an open conflict since World War II, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday after the NATO member state shot down a Russian drone over its territory.
He said Poland had asked NATO to open consultations under Article 4 of its treaty, which states that members of the Western military alliance will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
Tusk told parliament that there had been 19 intrusions into Polish airspace overnight, adding that the Polish military had successfully passed its first test, Reuters reports.
"I have no reason to claim that we are on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed and it is incomparably more dangerous than before. This situation brings us closer to open conflict since World War II."
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Karolina Galecka said Poland had found seven drones and debris from a missile.
A drone or similar object hit a residential building in Wyryki in eastern Poland, but no one was injured, the local mayor told state news channel TVP Info.
Elsewhere in the eastern Lublin region, police said they found a damaged drone in the village of Czosnowka.
Footage of a Russian drone shot down in Poland is released
Photo: Associated Press
Polish Interior Ministry spokeswoman Karolina Galecka said Polish authorities have so far identified seven drones and "remains of a missile of unidentified origin."
One of the drones that crossed the Polish border crashed near Sulejów, in Mniszków, Poland.
Polish media have published footage of the downed drone.
One of the drones crashed into a house in the Lublin region.
Military historian Jakup Czerwinski has said that the drone shot down in this region was a suicide drone, a Shahed-136 / Geran 2 manufactured in Iran.
Due to the downing of dozens of drones across the country, the Government Security Center is sending alerts to citizens.
The Prime Minister has called an emergency cabinet meeting.
"We are most likely dealing with a large-scale provocation. We are in consultation with our allies," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Russia denies its drones violated Polish airspace
Photo: Associated Press
Russia's acting charge d'affaires in Poland, Andrey Ordash, has denied claims that Russian drones have entered Polish airspace.
"We believe the claims are baseless. There has been no evidence that these drones are of Russian origin," Ordash told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
He also announced that he had been summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry.
Poland seeks to activate NATO's Article 4
Photo: Associated Press
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that the violation of his country's airspace by a large number of Russian drones is an unparalleled and dangerous provocation.
Speaking to MPs in Parliament, Tusk said that Poland had sought to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows member states to raise an issue in the North Atlantic Council (NATO's main political decision-making body).
Consultations are then held to determine whether the territorial integrity, political independence or security of a member country is threatened.
Tusk says he expects greater support during these consultations.
"This is not just a war for Ukrainians. This is a confrontation that Russia has declared against the entire free world," he said.
Tusk: 19 drone intrusions into Polish airspace overnight
Photo: Associated Press
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that the Polish military had recorded 19 drone intrusions into the country's airspace overnight.
Speaking to the Polish parliament, Tusk said three or possibly four drones were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft that took to the air to confront the threat.
Tusk also said that a significant number of drones flew into the country from Belarus.
Russia has not yet commented on the violation of the NATO member country's airspace, while the action has sparked a reaction from many European Union countries.
Meanwhile, Russia's ally Belarus said the drones had lost their way.
And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the action sets a dangerous precedent for Europe.
Belarus claims Russian drones in Poland 'lost their way'
Photo: Associated Press
Belarus' Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muravyeika said that the entry of Russian drones into Polish airspace was accidental, after their navigation systems were jammed.
In a video on the Defense Ministry's official Telegram channel, he claims that the drones "lost their way" and that Belarus itself had shot down some over its territory.
Belarus is a dictatorship that hosts Russian missiles.
Russian troops entered Ukraine in 2022 through its territory.
Its ties with Moscow are very close.
Meanwhile, there has been no direct reaction from Russia regarding the case, which has sparked a reaction from NATO member states.
Macron calls Russian violation of Polish airspace "unacceptable"
Photo: Associated Press
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that the violation of Polish airspace during a Russian attack on western Ukraine was unacceptable.
Macron said he would soon have a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"We will not compromise on the security of our allies," Macron wrote on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said eight Russian drones violated Polish airspace on Wednesday.
According to him, this marks a dangerous precedent for Europe.
The incursion of Russian drones in the Polish airspace during an attack conducted by Russia against Ukraine is simply unacceptable. Je la condamne avec la plus grande fermeté. J'appelle la Russie à mettre fin à cette fuite en avant. Je réitère au peuple…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 10, 2025
Kallas calls the entry of Russian drones into Poland "intentional"
Photo: Associated Press
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has said that early indications suggest the entry of Russian drones into European airspace was deliberate, not accidental.
She wrote on Wednesday in X that Russia's war continues to escalate.
"We must increase the cost to Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine and invest in the defense of Europe. The EU plays a major role and we will support initiatives such as the eastern border defense line," Kallas wrote.
She described the Russian attack, in which drones entered Polish airspace, as "the most serious violation of European airspace by Russia since the beginning of the war."
Kallas added that she is in contact with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski.
"The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland," Kallas said.
Last night in Poland, we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental.
- Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) September 10, 2025
I am in contact with @SecGenNATO and @radeksikorski.
The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland. (1/2)
NATO meets today, discusses Russian violation of Polish airspace
Photo: Associated Press
NATO will discuss the drones that violated Polish airspace during a regular meeting on Wednesday.
The North Atlantic Council (NATO) will meet on Wednesday morning for a regular session and will discuss how NATO responded to drones that entered Poland overnight, NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said dozens of Russian drones violated his country's airspace on Wednesday.
The Baltic and Nordic countries have also reacted to the action.
Meanwhile, there is still no response from Moscow on how this happened.
Russian drone damages residential building in Poland
Polish media have reported that one of the Russian drones that violated Polish airspace on Wednesday damaged a house in Wyryki.
The incident occurred during Russian attacks on Ukraine. According to the Polish military, dozens of drones violated airspace.
Poland lies to the west of the country attacked by Russia.
The published photos allegedly show the damaged house, its roof destroyed and parts of the wall collapsing onto a parked car. The deputy chief of police for the region confirmed the incident to broadcaster Polsat. There were no injuries.
The mayor of Włodawa County, Mariusz Zańko, said it was still unknown whether the drone itself had fallen onto the building and damaged the roof and ceiling, or whether it was debris from the drone.
However, he reported that residents had reported an explosion.
EU should develop a "drone wall" on its eastern border, its top official says
Photo: Associated Press
The European Union should develop a "drone wall" along the eastern flank of its common borders, EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Wednesday.
His statement comes shortly after Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace during a Russian attack in western Ukraine.
"Once again, Russia is testing border states, the EU and NATO," Kubilius wrote in a post on the social media platform X.
"We will work together with member states, border countries and Ukraine. Russia will be stopped," he added.
Tusk: Polish airspace violated by a large number of Russian drones
Photo: Associated Press
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Polish airspace was violated by a large number of Russian drones on Wednesday.
Tusk wrote in X that drones posed a direct threat to his country.
"Last night, Polish airspace was violated by a large number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down. I am in constant communication with the NATO Secretary General and our allies," Tusk said.
Some of the Baltic and Nordic countries have also reacted to the action, expressing alarm.
And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that this sets a dangerous precedent for Europe.
Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down. I am in constant communication with the Secretary General of NATO and our allies.
- Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) September 10, 2025
Zelensky: Iranian-Russian “martyrs” operated in NATO airspace
Photo: Associated Press
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reacted to the downing of Russian drones in Polish airspace, saying the attacks on his country show that Moscow continues to "push its borders as far as possible."
"Moscow always pushes the boundaries of what is possible, and if it does not encounter a strong reaction, it remains at the new level of escalation," Zelensky added.
Zelensky said the "massive" attacks killed one person in the Zhytomyr region and injured three others in Volochysk.
"Fifteen regions were targeted overnight in an attack that included 415 drones of various types and more than 40 cruise and ballistic missiles," Zelensky said.
According to him, Iranian-Russian drones have violated NATO airspace.
"Today there was another step of escalation. Russian-Iranian 'shaheeds' operated in Polish airspace, in NATO airspace. It was not just one 'shaheed' that could be called an accident, but at least eight attack drones directed towards Poland," the Ukrainian president also said.
Everything we know about the downing of Russian drones in Poland
Photo: Associated Press
Poland says it has shot down drone-like objects that violated its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine.
This marks the first time a member of the NATO military alliance has committed its defense against Russian attacks on its airspace since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki will soon chair a briefing on National Security with top officials.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the operation was "ongoing" and that he was in contact with the NATO chief. He will also hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting in an hour.
The Polish military says the incident is an "unprecedented violation of Polish airspace," an "act of aggression that poses a real threat to the security of our citizens."
Citizens in three regions along the border with Ukraine, including Mazowieckie where the capital Warsaw is located, have been asked to stay home and take shelter.
Operations at four airports have also been halted, while the country's main airport, Chopin, in Warsaw, says its airspace over the country has been closed.
Baltic and Nordic states on alert after Russian drones shot down in Poland
Photo: Associated Press
Several NATO member states located near the border with Russia have issued statements expressing solidarity and concern, following the announcement that Poland's air defenses shot down several Russian drones in its airspace on Wednesday.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said that Russia's violation of Polish airspace is unacceptable.
"The Russian war against Ukraine poses a threat to the security of all of Europe. Poland has the right to defend its airspace. We give our full support to Poland, as a NATO ally and EU member. Sweden and Poland stand united in our support for Ukraine," Kristersson said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has posted on X to express his "full support and solidarity" with Poland and its allies.
He said that "Russian aggression in Ukraine affects us directly and appropriate measures must be taken."
Norway's Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, has also called Russia's action "deeply concerning and completely unacceptable," reaffirming Norway's unwavering support for Poland and shared commitment to European security.