NATO intercepts Russian drones in Poland and warns of worsening escalation with Putin

BerlinPoland announced early this morning that it had shot down several Russian drones that entered its territory and thus violated Polish airspace. NATO member Warsaw considered the incursion "an act of aggression" that posed "a real threat to the security" of its citizens. Prime Minister Donald Tusk even warned that the prospect of a major open conflict with Russia is "closer than at any time since World War II."

"Polish and allied forces have monitored dozens of objects by radar and, considering those that could represent a threat, the operational command of the armed forces has decided to neutralize them," the armed forces informed X, which ended the operation at 8 a.m. NATO reported that the alliance's air defenses helped Poland shoot down the drones. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who spoke at a press conference, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany intervened.

The incident prompted Poland to invoke Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which provides for consultations in the event that one of the Atlantic partners considers its interterritorial integrity or security threatened. Although the Polish Prime Minister said that "there is no reason to claim that we are in a state of war," he described the incidents as a "large-scale provocation."

Donald Tusk indicated that "the drones that posed a direct threat have been shot down" and called an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, which was also attended by several generals from the armed forces. He specified that 19 airspace violations had occurred, and the Ministry of the Interior specified that seven drones and "remnants of a missile of unidentified origin" had been identified.

This is not the first time that Russian drones have invaded the airspace of NATO countries, but it is the first time that one of the allies has been forced to shoot them down. Just this Tuesday, the Polish Defense Minister had emphasized that, in the wake of recent incidents, the downing of the aircraft would be authorized, and explained that the armed forces had the "full support" of the government to do so.

"Most likely, we are facing a large-scale provocation," said the Polish Prime Minister. Tusk said he was in contact with Mark Rutte and the rest of the allies, in order "to be able to respond to this type of threat with the same effectiveness with which we have done tonight." "The situation is serious. No one can doubt that we must prepare for various scenarios," he warned.

The Polish leader stressed that this incursion is unprecedented because, for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, the drones did not originate from the attacked country, but rather "a significant portion of the drones flew over Poland directly from Belarus." Therefore, he emphasized that "it cannot be said that the incursions were the result of errors, the loss of control of the drones, or minor Russian provocations." This is precisely the explanation given by Minsk, which stated that the aircraft had lost their way due to the action of Russian and Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.

Mark Rutte stressed that this attack, which he described as "absolutely reckless and dangerous," "is not an isolated incident" and reinforces the importance of NATO and the need to continue increasing investment in defense. "I am truly impressed" by the allies' reaction, said the secretary general, who added that the action in Poland demonstrates that the Alliance is prepared to defend "every inch" of its members' territory.

For his part, Poland's president, conservative Karol Nawrocki, has called an urgent national security meeting, also with the head of government. "The security of our homeland is the highest priority and requires close cooperation," he asserted, sending a message of unity despite clashes with the prime minister. He described the events as an "unprecedented moment" in the history of NATO and in the country's recent history.

US President Donald Trump's first public reaction to the attack has been somewhat cryptic. The president, who will speak today with Tusk and Nawrocki, acknowledged Russia's violation of Polish airspace. "What is Russia doing violating Poland's airspace with drones? Here we go!"Here we go, in English]", he wrote.

Russia says it was not planning to attack Poland

Russia responded that it did not launch a deliberate attack against Poland. "There was no plan to hit targets on Polish territory," a statement from the Ministry of Defense stated, emphasizing that the maximum flight range of the drones used in the airstrike on Ukraine, "which allegedly crossed the border with Poland," does not exceed 700 kilometers. However, the statement indicates that they are willing to "hold consultations on the matter" with the Polish Ministry of Defense.

Hours earlier, the European Union's top diplomat, Estonian Kaja Kallas, stated that "there are indications to suggest" that the drone attack was "intentional" and not accidental. She stressed that this is "the largest violation of European airspace by Russia since the beginning of the war (in Ukraine)." The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described the incursion as "reckless and unprecedented" and announced that Brussels will contribute €6 billion to create a "drone alliance" with Ukraine.

According to Ukraine—which, once again last night, suffered an attack with numerous missiles and drones in its airspace targeting several regions in the center and west of the country—Russia may have launched "two dozen" drones over Polish territory, according to information. "Moscow always pushes the limits of the possible, and if it doesn't meet with a strong response, it remains at the next level of escalation. Today is a new level of escalation: Russian-Iranian Shahed drones operating in Polish airspace, in NATO airspace," he wrote on social media. In tonight's attack on Ukraine, Russia launched 415 drones and more than 40 ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian president.

Several European leaders have come out in support of Poland and criticized Russia. Leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz criticized Moscow's behavior, calling it "reckless" and warning that it escalates tensions. For his part, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the European leader closest to Vladimir Putin, stated that the violation of territorial integrity is unacceptable, but avoided pointing the finger at Russia. "The incident demonstrates that our policy of calling for peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine is reasonable and rational," he wrote on X.

No personal injuries

Polish authorities confirmed that one of the drones fell onto the roof of a residential building in Wyryki, in the east of the country, causing minor material damage. According to local media, wreckage from a second device has also been found in the Lublin region, and the military is investigating it. The Polish government has mobilized Territorial Defense Troops (WOT), a service of volunteers and reservists, to conduct ground searches for the downed drones, according to the Interior Ministry. Initially, the violation of Polish airspace forced the temporary closure of four airports in the country.

"We call on citizens to remain calm, closely follow the announcements of state services, and not be carried away by emotions, manipulation, and misinformation," the Interior Ministry said, asking the public "not to approach, touch, or move the wreckage."