Poland shoots down Russian drones and activates Article 4 of the NATO treaty – Lithuania reports a similar incident
The crisis between Russia and NATO has escalated after Poland confirmed that several Russian drones violated its airspace during nighttime attacks on Ukraine. The Polish Air Force shot down three of these drones, marking the first time Russian drones have been shot down over NATO territory. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as a "widespread provocation," while the government confirmed that 19 drones entered Polish airspace.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the incident in her speech before the European Parliament, describing it as a "reckless and unprecedented violation." According to the European Union, the aircraft have been identified as Iranian-made Shahed drones supplied to Russia. Von der Leyen pledged full solidarity with Poland, emphasizing that Europe stands united in the face of such aggression.
For his part, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejected the idea that the drones had accidentally entered Polish airspace. He stated before the Bundestag that the drones were deliberately directed from Belarusian territory and were equipped with munitions. He linked the incident to a series of ongoing Russian provocations in the Baltic Sea airspace, in the sea itself, as well as through hybrid attacks in Central Europe. He also welcomed Poland's decision to activate consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows allies to discuss potential threats.
In Lithuania, a similar airspace violation was reported where two unidentified objects were recorded on Wednesday morning. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda warned that swarms of drones over Poland confirm that Russia poses an increasing threat to Europe and is deliberately escalating its aggression. For her part, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that the violation appeared to be carefully planned, considering it the most serious breach of European airspace since the beginning of the war.
In Poland, authorities found seven aircraft or drone wreckage in various areas, including Lublin, Łódź Voivodeship, and Masuria-Masuria. The roof of a house in the village of Wierzyki was damaged due to the fall of debris from one of the aircraft, but no injuries were reported. Thousands of police officers and more than 130 soldiers from the regional defense forces were deployed to track the remaining aircraft and secure the crash sites. Local reports indicated that at least 23 drones entered Polish airspace, some of which were shot down by Dutch F-35 fighter jets.
As for Belarus, Moscow's close ally, it claimed that its forces warned Poland and Lithuania about the "wayward" aircraft, but the European Union insists that the incursion was intentional. Although NATO did not classify the incident as a direct attack, the breach has led to a sharp escalation in tensions. Currently, consultations under Article 4 will determine the alliance's response, while Europe faces one of the most dangerous forms of direct confrontation with Russian aggression since the start of the war in Ukraine.