WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s military confirmed Wednesday that its air force intercepted a series of Russian drones that entered the country’s airspace during nighttime strikes targeting Ukraine.
Officials reported that 19 drones crossed into Polish skies between late Tuesday and early Wednesday. At least eight were destroyed by F-16 fighters operating with NATO support. Wreckage was found in multiple locations, including Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone hit a residential building. No injuries occurred.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the incursion a deliberate act of aggression and requested urgent consultations with NATO under Article 4. Flights at major airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were briefly suspended during the military response.
NATO described the incident as unprecedented, noting it was the first time allied forces directly engaged Russian hardware over member territory since the outbreak of the conflict. Moscow denied intentionally targeting Poland, suggesting technical malfunctions caused the drones to stray.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the event represented a serious escalation and called on allies to respond firmly. European leaders echoed the condemnation, with some advocating new sanctions on Russia.
Recovery and investigative operations are ongoing. Poland has bolstered air patrols and remains on heightened alert to guard against further incursions.
