Poland shoots down Russian drones: Will NATO enter conflict in Ukraine? | Russia-Ukraine conflict Information

[ad_1] Polish and NATO forces scrambled to intercept Russian drones which entered Poland’s airspace early on Tuesday evening and early on Wednesday, marking their first direct navy engagement with Moscow because the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in 2022.

Each Polish and NATO jets responded to the violation of Polish airspace, which occurred throughout a Russian aerial assault on Ukraine. “There was an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects,” the Polish navy operational command mentioned in a press release. “That is an act of aggression that posed an actual menace to the security of our residents.”

Poland quickly shut down at the least three of its airports, together with Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, the nation’s largest, and suggested folks to remain at dwelling whereas the operation continues. Folks in risk-prone areas in japanese areas of Poland bordering Ukraine, together with the capital of Warsaw, have been informed to take shelter.

“There isn't a purpose to say that we're in a state of conflict… however the scenario is considerably extra harmful than all earlier ones,” mentioned Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He added that the prospect of a big navy battle is “nearer than at any time because the Second World Warfare”.

The Russian drone incursion comes simply three days after Moscow hit the main government building in Ukraine’s Kyiv. That assault additionally broken the European Union and British Council buildings within the Ukrainian capital.

So, is NATO now inching in the direction of a conflict with Russia?

Troopers patrol the road after a drone or related object struck a residential constructing, in response to native authorities, following violations of Polish airspace throughout a Russian assault on Ukraine, in Wyryki municipality, Poland, September 10, 2025 [Jakub Orzechowski/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via Reuters] What has occurred in Poland? On Wednesday morning, the Polish navy mentioned it had shot down “drone-like objects” which entered its airspace throughout a Russian aerial assault on neighbouring Ukraine.

In line with Polish officers, the drones crossed the border amid a wave of Russian aerial strikes focusing on western Ukraine, triggering a direct navy response, which was joined by Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35, and Italian AWACS surveillance planes.

One of many drones struck a residential constructing in Wyryki, japanese Poland. No person was injured, in response to the Reuters information company.

That is the primary time that NATO-allied forces have engaged Russian navy belongings since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Tusk known as Russia’s violation of Polish airspace by a “large” variety of Russian drones a “large-scale provocation”. He added that the NATO forces had shot down those that posed any menace.

Later within the day, Tusk knowledgeable Poland’s parliament that the primary violation of Polish airspace occurred at about 11:30pm (21:30 GMT) on Tuesday, and the final was reported at 6:30am (04:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

He added that preliminary stories recommend there have been 19 airspace violations in whole, with a “important quantity” of drones crossing into Poland.

“We're able to repel such provocations. The scenario is critical, and nobody doubts that we should put together for numerous situations,” Tusk mentioned in his assertion. “All our allies are taking the scenario very critically. We've got not recorded any casualties.”

Tusk additionally convened an emergency assembly along with his prime cupboard ministers and acknowledged that his workplace was involved with NATO officers.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk holds a unprecedented authorities assembly on the chancellery, with navy and emergency providers officers, following violations of Polish airspace throughout a Russian assault on Ukraine, in Warsaw, Poland, September 10, 2025 [Kacper Pempel/Reuters] May this drag NATO into Russia’s conflict in Ukraine? The incident has thrust NATO’s collective defence rules into the highlight. Being a NATO member, a drone assault on Poland may set off Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

That article varieties the cornerstone of the alliance’s collective defence technique. It states that an “armed assault” in opposition to a number of members in Europe or North America shall be thought of an assault in opposition to all, obligating allies to take motion, together with the usage of armed pressure, to revive safety.

Article 5 just isn't triggered mechanically by such an assault, however may be initiated by an affected nation. It requires a consensus amongst NATO’s 30 member states that the incident meets the brink of an assault warranting collective motion.

For the reason that treaty was first signed in 1949, Article 5 has been invoked solely as soon as, following the September 11, 2001, assaults on the US.

Will Poland provoke Article 5? Not fairly but. Tusk mentioned Poland will invoke Article 4 of the treaty, below which a nation can request a proper session inside the alliance if it believes its safety has been threatened. This could function a political precursor to Article 5 deliberations.

Traditionally, Article 4 has been invoked solely seven occasions since NATO’s creation; the final time was by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia in 2022 instantly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Whereas Tusk mentioned he appreciates expressions of solidarity, “the phrases aren't sufficient” and Poland will request “a lot higher” assist from its allies.

Troopers patrol the road after a drone struck a residential constructing in Wyryki municipality, Poland, September 10, 2025 [Jakub Orzechowski/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via Reuters] How has the EU responded to this incident? The EU’s prime diplomat, Kaja Kallas, vice chairman of the European Fee, mentioned the incident marked an escalation of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

“We should elevate the associated fee on Moscow, strengthen assist for Ukraine, and put money into Europe’s defence,” she mentioned in a press release posted on X. “The EU performs a serious function and we'll assist initiatives just like the japanese border defend defence line.”

Kallas mentioned the EU stood in “full solidarity with Poland” and known as the Russian drone intrusion “probably the most critical European airspace violation by Russia because the conflict started, and indications recommend it was intentional, not unintended”.

EU’s defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, additionally emphasised the necessity for a “drone wall” alongside its shared borders. “As soon as once more Russia checks frontier states, EU & NATO,” Kubilius wrote in a submit on X. “We will work along with member states, frontier international locations and Ukraine. Russia might be stopped.”

How has Ukraine responded? Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned that Moscow was persevering with to “push the boundaries of what's doable” by aiming drones at Poland.

“If [Russia] doesn't encounter a robust response, it stays on the new degree of escalation,” Zelenskyy mentioned, including that 15 areas of Ukraine had been focused in a single day in a “large” assault by 415 drones of varied varieties and greater than 40 cruise and ballistic missiles.

“The Russians should really feel the results. Russia should really feel that the conflict can't be expanded and should be ended,” mentioned the Ukrainian president.

What else is Russia doing proper now? The violation of Polish airspace by the Russian drones comes as Moscow ramps up its assaults on Kyiv, stalls ceasefire talks and plans navy workout routines in neighbouring Belarus.

Poland mentioned it might shut its border with Belarus on Thursday, at midnight (22:00 GMT), upfront of an upcoming navy drill.

Russia and Belarus’s large-scale navy workout routines, known as the “Zapad” drills – which means “west” in Russian – usually contain hundreds of troops, tanks, plane and live-fire operations throughout western areas. The drill is a selected safety concern for neighbouring NATO member states Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

“On Friday, Russian-Belarusian manoeuvres, very aggressive from a navy doctrine perspective, start in Belarus, very near the Polish border,” Tusk informed a authorities assembly in Poland.

Belarus’s defence minister mentioned this yr’s Zapad would come with drills for the doable use of nuclear weapons and the Russian-made, intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik missile.

Previous Zapad drills have prompted considerations within the West, most notably in 2021, when Russian troops deployed in Belarus for workout routines stayed for longer than anticipated after which spearheaded one a part of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

India, which has been hit by United States President Donald Trump with additional trade tariffs for getting Russian oil, can be anticipated to hitch the seven-day navy drill. Trump is now additionally pushing the EU to levy a one hundred pc commerce tariff on India – and has reportedly supplied to match this if it agrees.

Regardless of sustained diplomatic engagement for months in addition to pressure from the US , the hole between Moscow and Kyiv reveals little signal of narrowing, notably on points similar to territorial concessions and post-war security arrangements .