Poland has confirmed it shot down at least three Russian drones that entered its airspace overnight, marking the first time a NATO country has directly engaged Russian assets since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that Polish defenses had responded to 19 intrusions, calling it “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two.” He added that Article 4 of NATO’s treaty has been triggered, compelling alliance members to hold urgent consultations.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked NATO Air Command and the Royal Netherlands Air Force for backing the operation with F-35 fighter jets, while Polish forces began searching for wreckage and warned residents not to approach potential crash sites. Warsaw’s Chopin Airport shut down temporarily and flights were disrupted across the country, while Lublin’s airport remained closed.
NATO confirmed its support, with Secretary General Mark Rutte condemning the strikes as “reckless and dangerous” and pledging that the alliance would defend “every inch of NATO territory.” Officials in Brussels said envoys would discuss next steps, while several European leaders described the breach as deliberate escalation.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 415 drones and 40 missiles in overnight attacks, with at least eight Iranian-made Shahed drones aimed at Poland. He warned that the incursion marked “an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe” and demanded a united international response.
Moscow has denied any intention of targeting Poland. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its drones were aimed at military facilities in Ukraine and suggested their range made it unlikely they entered Polish airspace. Still, the Kremlin said it was open to consultations with Warsaw — even as Polish leaders dismissed Russia’s explanation as “groundless.”
In Washington, lawmakers from both parties called for swift action. Senator Dick Durbin said the repeated airspace violations proved Putin was “testing NATO’s resolve,” while Republican Joe Wilson described the drone strikes as “an act of war” and urged President Trump to cripple Russia with sanctions. The White House has not yet announced additional measures, though Trump previously warned Putin of “severe consequences” if he failed to pursue peace negotiations.
The incident has heightened fears across Europe’s eastern flank, particularly in the Baltic states, where leaders warned the attack underscores Russia’s willingness to expand its confrontation beyond Ukraine. With Poland poised to receive more than $51 billion US in EU funds to strengthen its defenses, officials in Warsaw say this latest escalation proves the urgency of ramping up Europe’s military readiness.