‘Russian incursion is intentional’: EU, NATO condemn attack on Poland; Zelenskyy warns of escalation

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an escalation against Russia, declaring that Poland was targeted by at least eight drones during the massive strike, Reuters reported.

‘Poland asked to activate Article 4 of NATO Treaty’: Polish PM

Following the incursion, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared there were 19 intrusions into Polish airspace overnight with large part of drones entering from Belarus, adding shooting down of three drones was confirmed with the fourth being likely, Reuters report stated.

“The fact that these drones, which posed a security threat, were shot down changes the political situation. Therefore, allied consultations took the form of a formal request to activate Article 4 of the NATO Treaty,” Tusk said in the parliament.

Following the attack, he also called an emergency meeting with security ministers early Wednesday, which comes just days after a stray missile was found in one of the country’s villages. “This is the first time Russian drones have been shot down over the territory of a NATO country. All our allies are taking the situation very seriously. We have not recorded any casualties,” Tusk said during the emergency meeting.

The Polish armed forces said the drones deemed dangerous were immediately shot down, with no casualties reported. Tusk added that the situation is under control and that Poland is ready to respond to any attacks or provocations.

‘Poland has no evidence of Russian drones’: Russian diplomat

Responding to Ukraine’s warnings of escalation, and the joint solidarity of EU and NATO allies, a Russian diplomat said that Poland had not given any evidence that the drones shot down in Poland were of Russian origin, Reuters reported quoting Russia’s RIA state news agency.

“We see the accusations as groundless. No evidence that these drones are of Russian origin has been presented,” Andrey Ordash, Russia’s charge d’affaires in Poland, was quoted as saying.

‘Entry of Russian drones into Polish airspace was intentional’: EU

EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said Russian drone entry into European airspace appears deliberate, not accidental. “Russia’s war is escalating, not ending. We must raise the cost on Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s defence,” Kallas said, as per a Reuters report.

A NATO spokesperson confirmed the same in a statement to Reuters that the drone incursion is not being treated as accidental. “It was the first time NATO aircraft have engaged potential threats in allied airspace,” the source said, adding that initial reports suggest an intentional invasion of at least six to ten drones.

According to the source, NATO’s Patriot air defence systems in the area detected the drones on their radars but did not engage them. Overnight, several NATO aircraft coordinated the response. Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35s, and Italian AWACS surveillance planes, along with mid-air refuelling aircraft, were all involved in the operation, Reuters report noted.

EU Council President Costa, meanwhile, wrote over a post on X. “Last night’s events are a stark reminder that the security of one is the security of all.”

“Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine and reckless airspace incursions into EU Member States pose a direct threat to the safety of all Europeans and to critical infrastructure across our continent,” he added.

In a post on social media, NATO chief spokesperson Allison Hart said that “numerous drones entered Polish airspace overnight and were met with Polish and NATO air defenses.”

‘At least eight drones targeted Poland’: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy declared that Poland was targeted by at least eight drones during a massive Russian strike in Ukraine involving around 415 drones and over 40 missiles, news agency Reuters reported.

“Today there was another step of escalation – Russian-Iranian ‘shaheds’ operated in the airspace of Poland, in NATO airspace. It was not just one ‘shahed’ that could be called an accident, but at least eight strike drones aimed toward Poland,” the Ukrainian President wrote on X.

“The Russians must feel the consequences. Russia must understand that the war cannot be expanded and must come to an end,” he wrote, adding, “The pause in sanctions has gone on far too long. A strong response is needed from Ukraine’s allies.”

A total of around 415 drones and over 40 missiles were deployed in the attack on Ukraine, which spanned 15 Ukrainian regions, killing one person in the Zhytomyr region and injuring three more in Khmelnytskyi region, he added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called on neighbouring countries to use their air defence to intercept aerial targets over Ukraine. “Ukraine has suggested such step for a long time. It needs to be taken for the sake of collective security,” Sybiha wrote on X.

‘Simply unacceptable’: France PM Macron

France’s President Emmanuel Macron called the incursion “simply unacceptable” and said he would soon speak with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

“We will not compromise on the security of allies,” Reuters quoted Macron.

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