Poland downs multiple Russian drones after ‘huge number’ enter its airspace overnight

Poland has shot down several Russian drones after what it called an “unprecedented violation” of its airspace during a heavy aerial assault on western Ukraine overnight, the country’s military command reported on Wednesday.

More than 10 drones crossed into Poland, triggering “defensive procedures” after they were deemed a “credible threat” to the country’s citizens, the Polish military command said, labelling the violation an “act of aggression”.

“Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday morning.

Tusk also said he had briefed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the situation and remained in “constant contact” with the NATO chief and other key Polish allies. An emergency meeting of Poland’s Cabinet of Ministers had been scheduled for Wednesday morning, a government spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the incursion showed that Vladimir Putin was broadening the scope of the war, and called on neighbouring countries to use their air defence systems to intercept drones and missiles over Ukraine.

“Putin’s sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes,” Sybiha said. “The longer he faces no strength in response, the more aggressive he gets.”

The incident is the first known case of a Russian drone being shot down by one of Ukraine’s neighbours and marks the most direct confrontation between NATO and Russian forces since Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet that entered its airspace without permission in 2015.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, several Russian drones have entered its neighbours’ airspace, including Poland and Romania, prompting air defence alerts. In 2022, NATO held an emergency meeting after a stray Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village near the border, killing two civilians.