Dutch F-35 fighters shoot down Russian drones in Polish airspace
Dutch fighter jets played a pivotal role in shooting down Russian drones that entered Polish airspace on Tuesday evening. The Polish army confirmed that Dutch F-35 aircraft participated in NATO's defense operation and contributed to securing the airspace, thanking the Dutch Air Force in an official statement. These aircraft have been monitoring NATO airspace over Eastern Europe since September 1.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that a large number of Russian drones have breached Polish territory. He clarified that the drones that posed a direct threat were shot down, and no civilian casualties were reported.
These aircraft that entered Poland were part of a large-scale Russian air attack on Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 415 drones, one ballistic missile, and 42 cruise missiles during the attack, and that eight drones headed directly towards Poland. It is noted that the border between Ukraine and Poland extends for 530 kilometers.
In this regard, Dutch Foreign Minister David van Vijl condemned this violation, describing the Russian drone attack as "unacceptable" and a threat to Europe's security. He affirmed that the Netherlands stands firmly with Poland, emphasizing the need for NATO's readiness and the imposition of stricter sanctions to pressure the Russian war economy.
The EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, described the drone attack as "the most serious breach of European airspace by Russia." She confirmed that there are indications that the operation was deliberate and not accidental, reiterating her call for increased investments in European defense capabilities as the war in Ukraine continues to escalate.