WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s air force confirmed Wednesday that several Russian drones were intercepted and destroyed after entering the country’s airspace during nighttime attacks on Ukraine.
Authorities said 19 drones crossed into Polish territory late Tuesday into early Wednesday. F-16 fighters, operating with NATO support, shot down at least eight of them. Debris was scattered across multiple areas, including the village of Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone struck a residential building. No injuries were reported.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the incident as an aggressive act and requested immediate consultations with NATO under Article 4. During the operation, flights at key airports including Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were temporarily halted.
NATO officials described the event as unprecedented, highlighting that it marked the first time allied forces directly engaged Russian equipment over European territory since the conflict began. Moscow denied targeting Poland, claiming technical errors caused the drones to deviate from their intended course.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the breach a dangerous escalation and urged a strong response from the international community. European leaders also denounced the incursion, with some advocating for expanded sanctions against Russia.
Recovery teams are collecting wreckage while investigations continue. Poland has increased aerial patrols and remains on high alert for additional violations.
