WARSAW, Poland — Polish authorities confirmed Wednesday that fighter jets intercepted and destroyed several Russian drones that entered the nation’s airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine.
The defense ministry reported that 19 drones crossed into Poland late Tuesday and early Wednesday. F-16 aircraft, supported by NATO allies, shot down at least eight of them. Debris landed in multiple areas, including the village of Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone struck a home. No injuries were reported.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk denounced the incursion as a deliberate act of aggression and requested immediate NATO consultations under Article 4. Airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were temporarily closed while the interceptions were carried out.
NATO officials described the situation as unprecedented, marking the first direct engagement between alliance forces and Russian hardware in European airspace since the start of the conflict. Moscow denied intentionally targeting Poland, attributing the drones’ presence to navigational errors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the incident a dangerous escalation and urged allies to respond decisively. European leaders also condemned the event, with some advocating for increased sanctions against Russia.
Recovery teams are gathering debris while investigations continue. Poland has increased aerial patrols and remains on high alert for any further intrusions.
