NATO issued a stern warning to Russia following a violation of Polish airspace by numerous drones early Wednesday.
“Last night, numerous drones from Russia violated Polish airspace. Our air defenses were activated and successfully assured the defense of NATO territory, as they are designed to do,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Wednesday. He added, “The North Atlantic Council met this morning and discussed the situation in light of Poland’s request for consultations under Article IV of the Washington Treaty. Allies expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia’s reckless behavior.”
Rutte further mentioned that NATO allies are “determined to step up their support for Ukraine,” a nation that has been battling Russia for over three years.
POLAND INTERCEPTS DRONES IN ITS AIRSPACE DURING RUSSIAN ASSAULT ON NEIGHBORING UKRAINE
According to The Associated Press, NATO chief spokesperson Allison Hart indicated that the alliance’s 32 national envoys would address the matter at a scheduled meeting.
“This is the first time NATO planes have engaged potential threats in allied airspace,” NATO spokesman Col. Martin O’Donnell was quoted by the AP as saying.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also confirmed the violation, stating that “a huge number of Russian drones” had crossed into his country’s airspace.
Poland was not alone in defending its territory from the Russian assault, which was reportedly aimed at Ukraine. Several leaders of allied countries condemned the attack, with support also extended to Warsaw’s airspace defense.
Although Rutte did not specifically mention the Netherlands’ participation in the defense, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed that Dutch F-35 fighter jets, stationed in Poland under NATO, also provided support during the aerial incursion.
“Let me be clear: the violation of Polish airspace last night by Russian drones is unacceptable. It is further proof that the Russian war of aggression poses a threat to European security,” Schoof declared in a Dutch language message on X, as reported by the AP.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined the attack’s timeline in a post on X. He stated that the first Russian drone crossed from Ukraine into Poland at approximately 12:50 a.m. Kyiv time on Wednesday.
“At least two Russian drones that entered Polish territory during the night used Belarusian airspace. In total, at least several dozen Russian drones were moving along the border of Ukraine and Belarus and across western regions of Ukraine, approaching targets on Ukrainian territory and, apparently, on Polish territory,” Zelenskyy added.
He further noted that as many as two dozen Russian drones might have entered Polish airspace, though Ukraine was working to verify the precise number.
“Ukraine is ready to expand our cooperation with partners for reliable protection of the sky. So that we have not only information and intelligence data sharing, but also real joint actions that guarantee security of the neighbors. Russia must feel that Europeans know how to defend themselves,” Zelenskyy concluded.