Poland shoots down Russian drones inside its airspace, calls it ‘act of aggression’

Poland on Wednesday said it shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace. The incursion took place during the overnight Russian bombardment of Ukraine.

This is the first time that a Nato member-state has said it shot down Russian attack drones inside its airspace. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) is based on the basis of the collective defence principle rooted in its Article 5 where an attack on one is considered an attack on all members.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the parliament that 19 Russian drones entered the country’s airspace. He said that two F-35s fighter planes, two F-16s, and MI-24, MI-17, and Black Hawk helicopters were deployed to tackle these drones.

“The first airspace violation was recorded around 11:30 pm and the last at 6:30 am, showing the scale of the operation that lasted all night,” Tusk further said.

Separately, the Polish military said that Polish and Nato ally countries’ warplanes deployed in the country were mobilised to tackle Russian drones and ground-based air defences were also pressed into action. It described the development as an “act of aggression” by Russia.

While drones and missiles have previously crossed into Poland, which borders Ukraine in the west, this is the first time that the country shot down Russian drones. At least two Russian drones had entered Polish airspace last week as well.

Last night, Russia attacked Ukraine with 458 missiles and drones and 413 of them were shot down, the Ukrainian military said.

In a statement, the Ukrainian Air Force said that the Russian overnight attack included 415 attack drones, including more than 250 Iranian-origin Shahed drones, 42 cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile.

Putin is testing the West, says Ukraine

After the first such confrontation between Russia and a Nato member, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “testing the West” with such actions.

“Russian drones flying into Poland during the massive attack on Ukraine show that Putin’s sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes,” said Sybiha.

The longer Putin faces no strength in response, the more aggressive he gets, Sybiha further said.

Ukraine has pressed for tougher sanctions on Ukraine to build pressure on Putin to come to the negotiating table. So far, US President Donald Trump has not taken any punitive action against Putin for refusing all offers for ceasefire and direct talks.

Sybiha also flagged the threat that Russian bombardment poses to neighbouring European countries and said the “decision needs to be taken to enable partner air defense capabilities in neighbouring countries to be used to intercept drones and missiles in the Ukrainian air space, including those approaching Nato borders”.