At least three Russian drones were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft in Poland's airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced.
Tusk reported that Poland experienced 19 drone incursions, with some drones flying deep enough to temporarily close four airports, including Warsaw's main hub, Chopin.
This recent episode has pushed Poland to what Tusk characterized as the brink of open conflict for the first time since World War Two, marking a significant development in the ongoing war. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed it did not plan to target any facilities in Poland.
The maximum range of the Russian drones involved in this breach is believed to be 700 kilometers (approximately 435 miles), according to Russia's defence ministry, which added they were open to discussions with Poland regarding the incident.
Poland has experienced an unprecedented level of drone activity, resulting in a request from Tusk to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, initiating urgent consultations among NATO members. This measure underlines the potential threat posed by the drone incursions and the need for collective defense.
While there have been no reports of injuries from the incidents, the Polish military is urging citizens to remain alert, especially in areas like Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin, where remains of identified drones have been discovered.
The situation remains fluid as air traffic resumes, though disruptions are expected to persist at major airports.
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