WARSAW, Poland — Polish officials announced Wednesday that fighter jets intercepted Russian drones that entered the country’s airspace during nighttime strikes on Ukraine.
Military authorities stated that 19 drones crossed into Poland between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday. At least eight were brought down by F-16 aircraft operating with NATO support. Debris was located in several regions, including Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone struck a home. No one was injured.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the breach as an aggressive act and called for immediate NATO consultations under Article 4. During the military response, flights at Warsaw Chopin and other airports were suspended.
NATO characterized the confrontation as a first of its kind, with allied forces directly engaging Russian drones over member territory since the war began. Moscow denied intentionally targeting Poland, attributing the incident to technical malfunctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged a strong international reaction, calling the intrusion a serious escalation. European leaders also condemned the event, with some advocating new sanctions on Russia.
Investigations are underway as recovery teams collect and examine wreckage. Poland has reinforced aerial patrols and remains on heightened alert for additional violations.
