Russian Drones Shot Down Over Poland Amid Biggest East West Escalation So Far

Poland changeable down aggregate Russian drones that violated its airspace during a large-scale Russian onslaught connected occidental Ukraine overnight, making this nan first clip a NATO personnel has fired shots successful nan ongoing war. 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called nan incursion “an enactment of aggression”, reiterating that nan drones posed a nonstop threat to Polish citizens. The unprecedented action has heightened tensions and prompted calls for a unified consequence from NATO allies.

Poland’s subject bid reported that its radars tracked complete 10 Russian drones crossing into Polish airspace from Ukraine’s separator regions of Volyn and Lviv. Those deemed a threat were “neutralised” pinch assistance from NATO aerial bid and Dutch F-35 fighters. “Searches for imaginable clang sites are ongoing,” nan bid stated, urging residents successful nan Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions to enactment indoors owed to information risks. Warsaw’s Chopin airdrome concisely closed, and Lublin’s airdrome remains shut, causing wide formation disruptions.

Republican US Representative Joe Wilson said, “Russia is attacking NATO state Poland pinch Iranian Shahed drones little than a week aft President Trump hosted President Nawrocki astatine nan White House. This is an enactment of war, and we are grateful to NATO friends for their swift consequence to warfare criminal Putin’s continued unprovoked aggression against free and productive nations.”

Zelensky calls Russian drones complete Poland “dangerous precedent”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned nan incident arsenic “an highly vulnerable precedent for Europe,” noting that Russia deployed 415 drones and 40 missiles successful attacks crossed 15 Ukrainian regions overnight, pinch astatine slightest 8 drones “aimed toward Poland.” He urged a “strong, associated response” from Ukraine, Poland, Europe, and nan United States, informing that Russia’s escalation demands consequences. One personification was killed successful Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, and 3 were injured successful Volochysk.

NATO main Mark Rutte is successful adjacent consultation pinch Polish leadership, though nan confederation has not yet issued an charismatic statement. Baltic and Nordic NATO members expressed solidarity, pinch Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson calling nan usurpation “unacceptable” and Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs advocating for “appropriate measures”. Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide labelled nan incident “deeply concerning”, reaffirming support for Poland.

Poland’s Territorial Defence Force shortened its soldiers’ reporting clip to six hours successful 4 eastbound provinces, saying nan airspace usurpation and ongoing crushed searches. The incident shows Poland’s heightened alertness, pinch accrued subject spending and civilian information drills reflecting fears of Russian aggression spilling complete from Ukraine.

Russia’s Defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment. President Vladimir Putin has many times dismissed claims of Russian intent to onslaught NATO arsenic “nonsense”. However, this incident, pursuing anterior drone incursions into Poland and Romania, raises concerns astir escalation risks betwixt Russia and nan West.