Poland shoots down ‘Russian drones in its airspace’ during attack on Ukraine

Poland’s military says it shot down more than 10 drones which violated its airspace during a Russian attack on western Ukraine.

Both Polish and NATO air defences were scrambled after drones ‘repeatedly’ violated the country’s airspace during a bombardment of Ukraine which left at least one dead.

Those that posed a threat were ‘neutralised’ and searches to find their crash sites are ongoing – with people warned not to approach any wreckage in case they contain hazardous material.

Bernard Blaszczuk, mayor of the village of Wyryki in Lublin region, told local media a house was hit by ‘either a missile or a drone, we don’t know yet’. He said people were inside the building but nobody was hurt.

Poland’s military command warned: ‘This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.’

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the violation of his country’s airspace was likely a ‘large scale provocation’ and that Poland is ready to react.

This is the first time Poland has got involved in the war in its neighbouring nation.

Poles have been urged to stay at home, with the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions considered the most at risk.

Most of Ukraine, including western regions of Volyn and Lviv which border Poland, had been under air raid alerts nearly all night.

The Russian attacks deployed around 415 drones and over 40 missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that he believes around eight of those were aimed towards Poland.

Air defence units downed 386 drones and 27 missiles, the Ukrainian air force said.

Ukraine’s foreign minister said the Russian drones entering Polish airspace show Vladimir Putin’s impunity and his expansion of the war.

Andrii Sybiha said on X: ‘Putin just keeps escalating, expanding his war, and testing the West.

‘This situation shows that finally the decision needs to be taken to enable partner air defence capabilities in neighbouring countries to be used to intercept drones and missiles in the Ukrainian air space, including those approaching NATO borders.’

Chopin Airport in Warsaw, the country’s largest, closed its airspace for around two hours due to military activity.

Flight tracking data showed a number of flights due to land there this morning were instead diverted to airports in Katowice, Wroclaw and Poznan.

A spokesperson said: ‘Due to the situation related to the restrictions and prior closure of the airspace, disruptions and delays are to be expected, which may last throughout the day.’

Mr Tusk said he was in ‘constant contact’ with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

It comes as four-day joint military exercises with Russian and Belarusian troops are set to start in Belarus on Friday, with the aim of showcasing the close links between the two countries.

Belarus shares a border with Poland, and this morning said it had shot down drones over its own airspace overnight – but did not specify whether those drones were Russian or Ukrainian.

Is Poland in NATO?

Poland is a member of NATO, having joined the 32-country military alliance in 1999.

NATO warplanes based in Poland have been scrambled several times since the war began to protect its 332-mile long border with Ukraine.

Ben Hodges, former commander of US Army forces in Europe, said the number of incursions by Russian drones into NATO airspace ‘make it clear that these are intentional tests of NATO and national air defenses and early warning systems’.

He told Reuters: ‘We need to be able to respond effectively, each time. We certainly could be doing more.’

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