Poland shot down Russian drones that crossed into its airspace during a massive overnight attack on western Ukraine, an incident Warsaw called “an act of aggression” and the first time a NATO member has opened fire in the war.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that a large number of Russian drones violated Polish skies on Wednesday. Those posing direct threats were intercepted and destroyed. “Poland’s security and sovereignty are not negotiable,” Tusk said.
The operation triggered temporary closures at four airports, including Warsaw’s main Chopin hub, Warsaw-Modlin, Rzeszów-Jasionka near the Ukrainian border, and Lublin.
For the interception of 10 Russian drones over Polish territory, a joint NATO effort was deployed:
Polish F-16 fighter jets
Dutch F-35 aircraft
Italian AWACS reconnaissance planes
NATO-operated aerial refueling planes
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with Polish leaders and emphasized that the alliance was “consulting closely” in response to the incident.
The drone shootdown underscores how the war in Ukraine continues to spill across borders, raising tensions in Eastern Europe. For Poland, a country that has been one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters, the incursion marks a dangerous new stage—one where NATO itself is now directly engaging Russian hardware in the skies.
