Russian Drones Prompt Polish Air Defence Activation Amid Ukraine Attacks
Warsaw, Poland – Polish air defenses were activated overnight as Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace during a barrage targeting Ukraine, officials said Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr zelenskyy stated that at least eight drones were “aimed toward” Poland, marking a notable escalation in the conflict and raising concerns about the potential for wider regional impact.
The incident occurred as Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine, utilizing Iranian-designed Shahed drones. Poland, a NATO member and staunch supporter of Ukraine, hosts over a million Ukrainian refugees and serves as a critical transit hub for western aid. This latest event follows previous instances of Russian aerial intrusions into Polish airspace, including a drone explosion in farmland last month and a missile incursion in 2023. In November 2022, two civilians were killed in Poland by a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile that fell near the border.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga warned on X that Russian President Vladimir Putin “just keeps escalating, expanding his war, and testing the West,” adding that a weak response would provoke further aggression. Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki echoed thes concerns, stating he does not trust Putin’s intentions and believes the Russian leader is “ready to also invade other countries.”
European Union officials condemned the airspace violation. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called it “reckless and unprecedented,” while top diplomat Kaja Kallas posted on X that the incident appeared intentional and represented “the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began.”
The activation of Polish air defenses underscores the growing risk of the conflict spilling beyond Ukraine’s borders and highlights the need for a strong and unified response from the international community.
