WARSAW, Poland — Poland confirmed Wednesday that its air force destroyed multiple Russian drones that crossed into its territory during nighttime attacks directed at Ukraine.
The defense ministry reported that 19 drones breached Polish airspace late Tuesday and into early Wednesday. F-16 fighters, aided by NATO partners, eliminated at least eight. Wreckage was discovered across several sites, including the village of Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone struck a house. No casualties were reported.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the episode as a hostile act and invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty to request urgent consultations. During the military action, airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin suspended operations.
Alliance representatives called the engagement unprecedented, highlighting it as the first direct encounter between NATO defenses and Russian equipment over member territory since the start of the conflict. Moscow denied intentionally sending drones into Poland, suggesting technical errors may have caused them to drift.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the violation as a grave escalation and appealed for decisive measures from allies. European leaders also criticized the breach, with some urging stronger sanctions on Russia.
Polish authorities continue to collect debris and investigate the incident. Air patrols have been intensified, and the nation remains on elevated alert for further intrusions.
