Supported by NATO, Poland shoots down Russian drones

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Sept. 10 that Polish forces, backed by NATO aircraft, downed multiple Russian drones that breached the country’s airspace overnight. 

“Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down,” Tusk wrote on X. “I am in constant communication with the Secretary General of NATO and our allies.”

According to Reuters, this marks the first known instance of a NATO member firing shots in Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski insisted Russia’s incursions were deliberate, noting that 19 drones crossed into Polish airspace. 

“When one or two drones does it, it is possible it was a technical malfunction,” Sikorski said, according to the BBC. “But there were 19 breaches, and it simply defies imagination that it was accidental.” 

However, Russia rejected that account, claiming that Poland was not a target. Russia’s state-run agency TASS reported that the Defense Ministry said the maximum range of the drones “which allegedly crossed the border with Poland does not exceed 700 km.” The ministry added it “is ready to consult with Poland ‘on this topic,’” the agency reported. 

Addressing parliament after the incident, Tusk emphasized its gravity, calling the events “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” though he added he had “no reason to believe we’re on the brink of war,” Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the defense operation as a success and credited reactions from Poland, along with Dutch, Italian, and German aircraft.

“I think what we have seen last night was a very successful reaction by NATO and Allies,” Rutte told reporters at a press conference. He added that Russia’s action, “whether it was intentional or not,” is “absolutely reckless.” 

The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, also weighed in, vowing that America “will defend every inch of NATO territory.”

Ukraine, for its part, said it had issued advance warnings to the neighboring country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sept. 10 that his military had warned Warsaw about the “movement” of Russian drones during the night. He added that data now shows “around two dozen of Russian drones may have entered Polish airspace during the night.”

“Ukraine is ready to expand our cooperation with partners for reliable protection of the sky,” Zelenskyy said. “So that we have not only information and intelligence data sharing, but also real joint actions that guarantee security of the neighbors.”

According to the BBC, a White House official said President Donald Trump is monitoring the situation in Poland and plans to speak with Polish President Karol Nawrocki later today.