Poland Downs Russian Drones After Airspace Violation

Poland activated its own and NATO air defences on Wednesday after Russian drones crossed into its airspace during a large-scale attack on Ukraine, marking the first direct involvement of Warsaw in the conflict. The Polish government called the airspace violation “an act of aggression” and a threat to national security.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that defensive operations were still underway and that he was in “constant contact” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. A government spokesperson announced an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers scheduled for 8 a.m. (0600 GMT).

According to Poland’s military command, multiple drones breached Polish airspace amid a wave of Russian strikes in western Ukraine, close to the Polish border. Radar systems tracked over ten aerial objects, and those deemed a threat were “neutralised”.

“Some of the drones that entered our airspace were shot down. Searches and efforts to locate the potential crash sites of these objects are ongoing,” the military command said.

Authorities issued stay-at-home advisories for residents in the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions, citing ongoing risks. “This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens,” the command stated.

Russia’s defence ministry has yet to comment on the incident.

CNN reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been briefed on the situation, though the State Department has not issued an official statement.

As a precaution, Warsaw’s Chopin Airport—the nation’s largest—was temporarily shut down due to military operations. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated several incoming aircraft were diverted to other Polish cities, including Katowice, Wroclaw, and Poznan.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that four Polish airports were briefly closed, including Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport, a key hub for transporting both passengers and arms to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, air raid sirens blared across most of Ukraine overnight, particularly in the western regions of Volyn and Lviv that border Poland. Ukraine’s air force initially reported the drones entering Polish airspace, warning of a threat to the city of Zamosc, though the message was later deleted from its Telegram channel.

In Washington, several lawmakers reacted sharply to the incident. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin warned that repeated violations of NATO airspace suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin is “testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations.” He added, “After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored.”

Republican Representative Joe Wilson echoed similar concerns, declaring that Russia was “attacking NATO ally Poland” and called the drone strikes an “act of war”. He urged President Donald Trump to respond with sanctions “that will bankrupt the Russian war machine.”

“Putin is no longer content just losing in Ukraine while bombing mothers and babies, he is now directly testing our resolve in NATO territory,” Wilson added.

Over the weekend, President Trump signaled his readiness to intensify sanctions against Moscow following stalled peace negotiations. His statement marked the strongest indication yet that a shift in U.S. policy may be imminent.

Meanwhile, coordinated sanctions discussions were reportedly underway in Washington with the European Union’s top sanctions official, aimed at developing the first transatlantic package of measures against Russia since Trump returned to office in January.

Poland has remained on high alert since 2022, when a stray Ukrainian missile accidentally struck a southern Polish village, killing two civilians. Until now, however, there have been no reported incidents of Polish or NATO defence systems downing drones.

In a separate move, Poland announced plans to close its border with Belarus at midnight on Thursday due to Russia-led military exercises taking place there. These large-scale drills—part of the “Zapad” joint exercises between Russia and Belarus—have raised alarms in neighbouring NATO members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Lithuania also confirmed it would reinforce security along its borders with Belarus and Russia in response.

Commenting on the situation, retired U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges said the drone incursions were “intentional tests of NATO and national air defenses and early warning systems.”

“We need to be able to respond effectively, each time,” Hodges told Reuters. “We certainly could be doing more.”