Poland has shot down multiple drones that entered its airspace overnight during a large-scale Russian aerial attack on neighbouring Ukraine, in what Prime Minister Donald Tusk described as an “act of aggression”.
Warsaw convened an emergency meeting of ministers and said searches were under way for debris in several eastern regions. NATO’s Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, has been briefed by Mr Tusk.
The Polish Armed Forces reported that more than ten drone-type objects crossed into Polish airspace. Air defence assets engaged and neutralised those assessed to pose a threat. Civilians were urged to avoid suspected crash sites while territorial defence units and police secured areas where wreckage was believed to have fallen. Polish actions were supported by NATO assets; Dutch F-35s were cited by officials among allied aircraft on task.
Air traffic was disrupted. Warsaw’s Chopin Airport temporarily closed, with arrivals diverted, before reopening later in the morning. Notices to airmen also indicated restrictions at Rzeszów–Jasionka, Warsaw Modlin and Lublin airports, reflecting a precautionary posture as the incident unfolded.
Ukraine’s Air Force initially stated on Telegram that Russian drones had entered Polish airspace and threatened the city of Zamość, north-west of the key logistics hub of Rzeszów. That message was later withdrawn, but Polish military statements confirmed repeated airspace violations during the night.
Rzeszów–Jasionka has served as a principal gateway for Western military assistance to Ukraine since 2022, owing to its proximity to the border and the main rail corridor to Lviv. Temporary restrictions there underscored allied concern that Russia’s campaign could spill over into NATO territory and disrupt the supply route.
While Poland has previously reported stray drones and missiles crossing from the war zone, officials and international media noted that Warsaw’s overnight interceptions marked a significant hardening of its posture. Prior instances typically ended with air policing and recovery operations; this time, air defences engaged and downed intruding objects.
European and transatlantic reactions were swift. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the breach appeared intentional and described it as the most serious violation of European airspace by Russia since the full-scale invasion began. In Washington, members of Congress warned that Moscow was testing NATO’s resolve and called for a firm response.
Under international law and NATO’s framework, a deliberate attack on a member’s territory would carry graver implications than an incursion by unmanned systems that is swiftly contained. Polish authorities are treating the episode as an act of aggression but have not indicated any intent to trigger Alliance consultations beyond close coordination already under way. The government’s immediate priorities are the forensic search for debris, assessment of any damage, and maintaining a heightened air defence posture along the eastern approaches.
The incident coincided with a fresh Russian strike package across western Ukraine, including attacks reported in the Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia regions. It also came against the backdrop of Russian-Belarusian exercises near NATO borders, a setting that has periodically led Allies to reinforce air policing and ground-based air defence measures along the frontier.
In Poland, the army’s Operational Command said it remained on high alert and would “identify and neutralise” any further objects that violated the national airspace. Authorities asked residents to report suspected wreckage but not to approach it, citing explosive-ordnance risks. Airports advised passengers to check the status of their flights as schedules normalised.
Analysts say Russia’s use of drones to probe the edges of NATO airspace carries the dual purpose of reconnaissance and psychological pressure, particularly against the logistics arc linking eastern Poland to western Ukraine. Whether the latest episode results in formal diplomatic measures—such as a summons of the Russian ambassador in Warsaw—will depend on what the debris analysis shows and whether Moscow offers any explanation. For now, Warsaw has signalled it will continue to intercept and recover intrusions as they occur.
The overnight sequence did not prompt retaliatory strikes beyond Polish territory, and there were no immediate reports of casualties in Poland. But officials in Warsaw made clear that any direct attack on critical infrastructure—such as Rzeszów–Jasionka or adjacent rail lines—would require a broader response with allies. The government’s message after the emergency meeting was that Polish and NATO air defences will be used to protect the border and the air routes that sustain Ukraine’s defence effort.
