At least three Russian drones were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft in Poland's airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine, as stated by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Tusk reported that Poland recorded 19 drone incursions, prompting the temporary closure of four airports, including Warsaw’s main hub, Chopin airport.
This incident marks the first time Russian drones have been engaged over a NATO member's territory since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Tusk highlighting, This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two.
In response, Russia’s defense ministry denied any intention to target Polish facilities, asserting that no plans existed for such actions.
The maximum range of the Russian drones that allegedly crossed into Poland does not exceed 700 km (435 miles), the ministry noted, yet they expressed readiness for consultations with Polish authorities regarding the crisis.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed the drone attacks an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accusing Putin of continual escalation of conflict.
Tusk, addressing Polish lawmakers, confirmed that three or perhaps four drones were downed, adding there were no reported casualties from this Russian action.
The political landscape surrounding Poland shifts dramatically as these drones, which posed a significant security threat, were eliminated before they could cause harm, with Tusk stating, A line has been crossed, and it's incomparably more dangerous than before.
In light of the events, Tusk has called for NATO's Article 4 to be invoked, which would initiate diplomatic discussions between member nations about the growing threat.
Meanwhile, flight operations were suspended at major airports in Poland as investigations into the incidents took place.
