Poland shot down drones in its airspace on Wednesday with the backing of military aircraft from NATO. Poland said 19 objects had entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine. Early indications suggested the entry of Russian drones into European airspace was intentional, not accidental. Moscow denied responsibility for the incident.
WARSAW SEPTEMBER 10: Poland shot down drones in its airspace on Wednesday with the backing of military aircraft from its NATO allies. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament it was “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two”. Poland said 19 objects had entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine, and that it had shot down those that posed a threat. Moscow denied responsibility for the incident.
Early indications suggested the entry of Russian drones into European airspace was intentional, not accidental, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday. “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.
“We are most likely dealing with a large-scale provocation,” Tusk said on Polish television, following an emergency meeting of the country’s National Security Bureau.
Poland has invoked Article 4 of NATO, meaning the alliance’s main political decision-making body will meet to discuss the situation and its next steps.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia used 415 drones and 40 missiles in attacks on Ukraine overnight, adding that at least eight Iranian-made shahed drones had been aimed towards Poland.
