Poland shot down suspected Russian drones that entered its airspace overnight Tuesday, marking the first time a NATO member has fired weapons during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The move has heightened tensions across Europe, with Warsaw describing the incident as the most serious threat to its security since World War Two.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that 19 drones had crossed into Polish territory during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine. “This is the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” he warned, though he stressed there was “no reason to believe we’re on the brink of war.”
The operation involved Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS surveillance planes, and NATO refueling aircraft. At least one drone struck a home in the eastern village of Wyryki-Wola, destroying the roof and leaving pensioner Tomasz Wesolowski’s house uninhabitable. Other drones crashed in southeastern fields, leaving burn marks across farmland.
Warsaw has invoked Article 4 of NATO’s treaty, which allows consultations among allies when a member feels threatened. Tusk condemned the incident as a “large-scale provocation” and suggested Russia may have been testing NATO’s air defenses.
A senior military source told reporters several drones appeared headed toward Rzeszow airport, the alliance’s key hub for arms shipments to Ukraine.
Moscow denied responsibility, claiming the drones came from the direction of Ukraine. Russia’s Defense Ministry admitted carrying out strikes on western Ukraine but said it had not targeted Poland. “Groundless,” said Andrey Ordash, Russia’s charge d’affaires in Warsaw.
The incident triggered a flurry of diplomatic reactions. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, calling the drone violation “reckless” in a social media post.
Leaders of France, Britain, Germany, and Canada joined in condemning the incursion, while several European countries pushed for a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack underscored the need for a joint European air-defense system. Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte called the episode “absolutely reckless” but said investigations were ongoing.
The Czech Republic pledged to send helicopters to strengthen Poland’s drone defenses, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced fresh sanctions targeting Russian oil shipments and third-country buyers.
The drone strike temporarily shut several Polish airports, including Rzeszow, where Western officials and supplies to Ukraine usually transit.
Experts warn the incident could reshape NATO’s security posture. “This is going to shock the alliance and the border countries, they’re all in the same situation,” said Riki Ellison, a missile-defense analyst. “It’s not the beginning of World War Three, but it’s evolving Russia’s understanding of how we fight and our weaknesses.”
Since NATO’s founding in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked only seven times, most recently in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
