On Wednesday, approximately two dozen drones were launched by Russia into the NATO member state, just seven days after President Trump’s meeting with at the White House.
This incursion prompted allied forces to initiate a military response to the perceived Russian aggression, marking Poland’s closest brush with overt conflict since the Second World War.
In response to this action, President Trump posted a foreboding message on social media, stating, “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!”
On Wednesday, the Kremlin asserted “no evidence” indicated the drones were of “Russian origin,” following remarks by Andrei Ordash, Moscow’s chief diplomat in Poland—who had been summoned by Warsaw—to the Russian state-owned media outlet RIA, where he declared, “We see the accusations as groundless.”
“We know one thing – these drones were flying from the direction of Ukraine,” he further stated, as translated by a .
Ordash’s assertions stood in contrast to evaluations from Ukrainian President , who reported that “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 Ukraine-Belarus border and in the western regions of , approaching targets in Ukraine and, apparently, Poland,” he further noted.
Neither NATO, the White House, nor Poland’s defense ministry offered immediate responses to inquiries from Digital concerning whether the drones, which reportedly entered Polish airspace, did so deliberately.
However, a White House official informed Digital that “President Trump and the White House are tracking the reports out of Poland, and there are plans for President Trump to speak with President Nawrocki today.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed parliament on Wednesday that at least 19 entered Poland’s airspace and eight crash sites were confirmed where they appear to have been intercepted by NATO forces; precise figures are still being gathered, as reported by the Associated Press.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte issued a statement on Wednesday, confirming that “A full assessment of the incident is ongoing.”
“What is clear is that the violation last night is not an isolated incident,” he further commented, alluding to similar situations where Russian drones have increasingly in recent months.
Tusk characterized the incident as “a large-scale provocation,” adding that “the situation is serious, and no-one doubts that we must prepare for various scenarios.”
Rutte reported that NATO leaders convened a meeting this morning, following Poland’s activation of Article 4, which initiates urgent discussions “whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened.”
Rutte confirmed that the nocturnal drone assault not only deployed Polish warplanes but also saw the “activation” of Dutch F-35s, Italian Airborne Warning and Control Systems, the NATO Multi Role Tanker Transport system for air-to-air refueling, and German Patriots, all of which “successfully ensured the defense of NATO territory.”
“This marks the first instance of NATO aircraft engaging potential threats within Allied airspace,” stated U.S. Army Col. Martin L. O’Donnell, spokesperson for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, on Wednesday. “NATO, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and all of Allied Command Operations are committed to defending every kilometer of NATO territory, including our airspace.”