WARSAW, Poland — Polish authorities confirmed Wednesday that military jets destroyed several Russian drones after they crossed into national airspace during nighttime strikes on Ukraine.
The defense ministry reported that 19 drones entered Poland between late Tuesday and dawn. At least eight were intercepted and neutralized by F-16 fighters operating with NATO support. Fragments landed in multiple regions, including Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone hit a residence. No injuries were recorded.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk labeled the incursion a deliberate provocation and requested immediate consultations with NATO partners under Article 4. Air travel at key hubs, including Warsaw Chopin and Rzeszów-Jasionka airports, was temporarily halted while the operation unfolded.
Alliance officials called the encounter unprecedented, noting it was the first direct clash involving NATO defenses and Russian hardware in European skies since the war’s outbreak. Russia denied any intent to strike Poland, attributing the drones’ path to technical failures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the incident as a serious escalation and pressed for a firm international answer. European governments strongly condemned the breach, with some urging tougher economic measures against Moscow.
Investigations are underway as teams collect wreckage and examine the circumstances of the intrusion. Poland has reinforced aerial surveillance and remains on elevated alert for additional threats.
