Warsaw, Poland (AP) – Down in Russian drone over Polandthe first in-person encounter between NATO and Moscow since the start of the war in Ukraine, rocking leaders across Europe on Wednesday, raising urgent questions about how the alliance is being prepared for the expansion of Russian invasion.
Polish authorities said Polish troops, with the help of their country’s allies, fired down several Russian drones that crossed airspace overnight, including ones released from Belarus. Since Russia launched its war with Ukraine in 2022, there have been several minor violations in the airspace above Poland (part of NATO territory), but the latest invasions were the most serious.
The drone herd damaged at least one home in eastern Poland, prompting emergency consultations under Article 4 of the Alliance.
“From a Polish perspective, this provocation is undoubtedly more dangerous than everything before,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass told Parliament. “This situation has brought us closer to an open conflict than ever since World War II.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense said the overnight strike was directed at Ukrainian military industrial sites in the western region of the country without any planned targets on Polish territory.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, both Poland and Ukraine, and adjacent to Russia, said it had tracked down a drone that had “lost its course” due to jamming.
Following the Russian Foreign Ministry, it accused Warsaw of trying to escalate tensions between Moscow and Europe in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Here’s what you need to know.
The night of invasion
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass said the overnight break-in would last for seven hours and end just after dawn, around 11:30pm on Tuesday. Drone parts were detected in nine locations within Poland. This includes the location where the roof was torn from a home in the Lublin area. No victims have been reported.
For the first time in the conflict, some drones appeared to have come directly from Belarus, Tass said. The drones forced temporary closures of some of Polish airspace and halted flights at Warsaw’s international airport.
Greater meaning
The drone invasion and NATO’s response sparked fear that the war in Ukraine could ripple over it. This is nowhere to go with the fear and peace efforts that are growing in Europe as Russia escalates its attack on Ukraine.
NATO’s air prevention aided Poland in what Alliance spokesman Colonel Martin O’Donnell called “NATO planes first engaged in potential threats in Allied airspace.”
While Polish troops called it an “act of attack,” Tass blamed the invasion as a massive provocation.
“I want to be very strong and stressful. There’s no reason to argue that we’re at war today,” he said. “But there is no doubt that this provocation has crossed previous boundaries.”
Allied forces’ response
Polish allies received assistance in the middle of the night. Tusk said the Polish Air Force was deployed in the air with the help of Dutch F-35 fighter jets, but the alliance’s radar system helped Polish officials track the location of the drone.
The Polish Ministry of Defense said that the Alliance’s efforts included F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters, as well as the Soviets designed MI-24 and MI-17 helicopters.
“Tonight, our system was really overwhelming,” said Lt. Col. Jace Golyzzewsky, a spokesman for the Polish Army’s Operations Command, at a press conference. He confirmed that Poland exchanged information with Ukrainian and Belarusian officials overnight.
Immediate international condemnation
The incident sparked rapid condemnation across Europe, with many European leaders saying they believe it was a deliberate act by Russia.
“There is no doubt that this is a mistake in correcting the course,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Congress. “These drones were intentionally placed very clearly on this course.”
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Moscow to stop what he described as a reckless escalation, but Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiara said the attack was a test of NATO’s defense.
Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelenkie Kiev has called the violation a “very dangerous precedent” and urges the allies to take a decisive response. NATO has reiterated its commitment to protect every inch of its territory.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schuf said the intrusion was “unacceptable” and he is pleased that the Dutch F-35 can provide support. “It is even more proof that the Russian war of aggression poses a threat to European security,” he said.
British Defense Minister John Healy said he had asked the British troops to consider options to boost NATO air defense over Poland.
“Whatever the intention behind yesterday’s attack on Poland, they were reckless,” Healy said. “They were dangerous. They were an attack on NATO airspace and NATO sovereignty.”
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Gella reported from Milan.
