NATO said this was its first aircraft engagement in Allied airspace, showing its capability and resolve to defend Allied territory.
Warsaw said on Sept. 10 that the Polish military had shot down “drone-type objects” that had entered the country’s airspace during Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine, which the Polish military described as an act of aggression.
Polish partners in the West have said the incursion into NATO territory was intentional, while Belarus, an ally of Russia, appears to suggest it was accidental.
This is not the first time that objects have entered Poland’s airspace since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, but Warsaw’s allies have said this is a sign of the conflict escalating.
Here’s what we know so far.
What Was Poland’s Immediate Response?
The Polish military said that it and allied partners had radar-tracked “several objects” and shot them down, later confirming it had received assistance from the Dutch air force and its F-35 fighters in securing Polish skies.
“As a result of today’s attack by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, there was an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects,” the military stated on X. “This is an act of aggression that created a real threat to the safety of our citizens.”
At about 7:40 am local time, it said that operations had concluded and it was now engaged in a search for possible impact sites, warning civilians not to approach any unknown objects or debris.
What Have EU, NATO Allies Said?
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that the incident was a “reckless and unprecedented violation of Poland and Europe’s airpace [sic].”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the incident was a sign that Russia’s war “is escalating, not ending.”
“Last night in Poland, we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental,” she wrote on X.
NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) said it and Allied Command Operations were staying in close contact with Polish authorities and thanked partners, including the Netherlands, for moving to a state of readiness to help defend NATO’s shared territory.
SHAPE said this was the first time that NATO aircraft had engaged potential threats in Allied airspace, and the alliance’s quick response demonstrated its “capability and resolve to defend Allied territory.”
The Epoch Times contacted the U.S. Department of State for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
