Russian drones Briefly Violated Polish Airspace During Ukraine Attack, NATO Confirms
Warsaw, Poland – on September 9th, during a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine, at least 19 Russian drones briefly entered Polish airspace, marking the first time in NATO history that enemy devices were intercepted within a member stateS territory. The Polish military responded by shooting down some of the drones, prompting a swift reaction from NATO allies and raising questions about the evolving nature of the conflict.
The incursion occurred as Russia launched over 400 drones targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. While the majority were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, a number strayed into poland, triggering a heightened state of alert. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has linked the incident to ongoing military exercises between Russia and Belarus, suggesting a possible rehearsal for aggression against a NATO country.
According to a timeline of events, Polish surveillance and helicopter planes were deployed to the border starting at 8:35 PM local time. Lublin airport was closed at 9:45 PM, followed shortly by the addition of an Italian surveillance plane.Warsaw’s main airports were shuttered at 11:00 PM as Patriot radars began detecting the drones. The first confirmed incursion into Polish airspace occurred at 11:30 PM, coinciding with the resumption of flight by a Dutch fighter jet.
Polish authorities confirmed that the drones originated from both Ukraine and Belarus - an unprecedented advancement.The Polish army prioritized intercepting drones deemed to have destructive potential,deliberately avoiding engagements over populated areas and allowing less threatening drones to pass through. Debris from the downed drones was scattered across a wide area, with some remnants found as far as 450 kilometers from the border.