WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s air force brought down several Russian drones that crossed into its airspace overnight during a wave of strikes against Ukraine, officials confirmed Wednesday.
According to the defense ministry, 19 drones entered Polish skies late Tuesday into early Wednesday. At least eight were destroyed by F-16 jets supported by NATO assets. Debris was scattered across multiple sites, including Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone hit a residence but caused no injuries.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk denounced the violation as an act of aggression and requested urgent consultations with NATO allies under Article 4. During the interceptions, airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were temporarily closed.
Alliance leaders described the incident as unprecedented, noting it was the first time NATO forces had directly engaged Russian hardware over allied territory since the start of the war. Moscow rejected responsibility, claiming the drones may have gone off course due to technical issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the event a dangerous escalation and pressed for a firm collective response. European governments echoed his concerns, with some pushing for tighter economic restrictions on Russia.
Recovery teams are examining wreckage while investigators work to establish details of the incursion. Polish forces have strengthened air defenses and remain on alert for further incidents.
