WARSAW, Poland — The Polish government said Wednesday that its fighter jets intercepted Russian drones that crossed into its airspace during overnight attacks aimed at Ukraine.
Authorities reported that 19 drones entered Polish territory between late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. At least eight were taken down by F-16 aircraft operating with NATO assistance. Wreckage was recovered in several locations, including the village of Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone damaged a house. No casualties were reported.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the incident a deliberate violation and formally requested NATO talks under Article 4. In response to the incursion, airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were briefly shut down.
NATO officials said the engagement represented a historic moment, the first time the alliance has confronted Russian weaponry inside allied airspace since the beginning of the conflict. Moscow denied deliberately targeting Poland, suggesting technical faults caused the drones to stray.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allied governments to treat the incident as a warning sign and push for tougher action against Russia. European leaders also issued condemnations, with several calling for stronger sanctions.
Investigators continue to examine debris and assess the scope of the breach. Poland has increased aerial patrols and remains on high alert for possible future intrusions.
