On Wednesday morning, the Polish military announced that they had shot down drones that violated the country's airspace during a Russian attack on neighboring Ukraine. "This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens," the Polish operational command said in a statement published on Tuesday morning.
Radars tracked more than 10 objects, and those that could pose a threat were "neutralized," the command reported. "Some of the drones that invaded our airspace were shot down. Searches and efforts to determine possible crash sites of these objects are ongoing," the statement said.
Polish authorities closed Warsaw's international airport, and the military reported that Polish and NATO aircraft were alerted following reports of Russian drones over the country. The airports of Rzeszow-Jasionka in southeastern Poland and the airport in Lublin were also temporarily closed.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social network X about "numerous violations" of the country's airspace. "The military used weapons against these objects. I am in constant contact with the president and the minister of defense," Tusk said, adding that he promptly informed NATO leadership about the air attack on Poland. He also convened an emergency meeting of the council of ministers.
Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland is "in constant contact with NATO command."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN that he was briefed about the appearance of Russian drones over Poland.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin stated that repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones are a sign that Russian President "Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to defend Poland and the Baltic states." "After the carnage that Putin continues to cause in Ukraine, these intrusions cannot be ignored," he wrote on X.
Republican Congressman, member of the US House Armed Services Committee Joe Wilson stated that the Russian drone attack on Poland is a reason for the Trump administration to immediately impose tough sanctions against the Kremlin and increase military support for Ukraine. "Russia attacks NATO ally Poland with Iranian drones less than a week after President Trump hosted President Nawrocki at the White House. This is an act of war, and we are grateful to NATO allies for their swift response to the ongoing unprovoked aggression of war criminal Putin against free and hardworking peoples," he wrote.
Earlier, Poland announced the closure of its eastern border with Russia's ally Belarus due to joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises set to begin on Friday, Reuters reported.
Photo: Reuters