Poland Engages in Air Defense as Russian Drones Violate Airspace

Sun Oct 19 2025 04:03:26 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Polish officials report that multiple Russian drones were shot down amidst escalating tensions. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warns this marks a significant threat to national security, stating it brings Poland closest to conflict since WWII.

Poland's military successfully intercepted at least three Russian drones that violated its airspace during attacks on Ukraine. Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted that this incident marks the gravest threat to Poland since the Second World War. Russian officials denied targeting Polish territory, while Ukraine called it a serious European threat. The Polish government initiated urgent consultations with NATO following the incident.

At least three Russian drones were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft in Poland's airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Tusk reported that Poland had detected 19 drone incursions, some necessitating the temporary closure of four airports, including Warsaw's Chopin Airport. He expressed concerns, stating, This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two. This incident marks the first time Russian drones have been downed over NATO territory since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russia's defense ministry asserted that there were no plans for strikes in Poland, while its temporary envoy denied that adequate evidence has been given to confirm the drones' Russian origin. Additionally, Belarus claimed the drones strayed into Polish airspace accidentally due to navigational issues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed the events an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe. The country has prepared for Ukraine's involvement in the complexities of regional security, with Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasizing this conflict impacts broader European interests, stating, This is part of global Russian strategy.

Putin's administration viewed the drone incursions as provocations, and Poland's authorities expressed a united front in response, showcasing a robust civil, military, and political coordination.

Tusk highlighted that the drones represented critical security threats, explaining, The fact that these drones were shot down preemptively changes the political situation. He mentioned efforts to activate NATO's Article 4 to initiate urgent consultations among member nations.

The Polish air force dispatched a fleet consisting of F-35, F-16, MI-24, MI-17 aircraft, and Black Hawk helicopters to monitor the intruding drones. Poland's military thanked NATO's Air Command for its-responsive support from the Netherlands and other member nations during the operation.