The Polish military initiated a response using NATO and national jets after Russian drones breached its airspace while conducting operations against Ukraine, it reported early Wednesday. This marks the first direct engagement by Warsaw with Russian forces since the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine.
“Amid the Russian Federation’s assault aimed at targets in Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly breached by drone-like objects,” stated the Polish military operational command on X.
Authorities also advised residents to remain indoors as the operation was in progress. The eastern regions of Poland, particularly Podlaskie, which borders Ukraine, as well as Mazowieckie and Lublin, were identified as high-risk zones.
“Efforts are ongoing to identify and neutralize these objects … weapons have been deployed, and personnel are engaged in locating the downed drones,” the military command reported.
“The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces is closely monitoring the situation, maintaining full readiness for immediate action,” it continued.
This is the first time Poland — or NATO assets — have directly engaged with Russian targets since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
According to a separate statement on X, Polish and NATO radars tracked several drones, some of which were shot down. The military is now identifying the locations of the crashes.
At least three airports across Poland, including the Chopin Airport in Warsaw, were “not available due to unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security,” according to NOTAM alerts on the U.S. Federal Aviation ministration website.
Known as “Notice to Airmen,” these alerts inform aircrews about time-sensitive aerial conditions for safe flying.
“The airport remains open, but no flight operations are currently taking place,” the Chopin airport said in a post on X.
Southwest of Warsaw, the Lublin airport was also closed, according to a NOTAM. The Rzeszów–Jasionka airport, a logistical hub for military and passenger transfers to Ukraine, was also closed.
The Polish engagement came as the Ukrainian air force earlier warned that Russian drones had entered Poland’s airspace and posed a threat to the city of Zamosc, before later removing that statement from the Telegram messaging app, Reuters reported.
The Ukrainian air force issued warnings of dozens of Russian drones and missiles attacking its own territory early Wednesday.
Poland and the U.S. are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which at its core is a mutual defense pact, meaning an attack on one is an attack on all.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighboring Poland has remained on high alert, especially after a stray Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village just a few months into the war in 2022 and killed two people there. Stray Russian missiles have also briefly entered Polish airspace on at least two occasions.
In the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN he had been briefed on reports of Russian drones over Poland as he left a dinner with President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the NATO airspace violation was a sign that, “Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations.”
“After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored,” he said on X.
