Poland and NATO Intercept Russian Drones Violating Polish Airspace

On the night of September 9, 2025, Poland's airspace was breached by numerous Russian drones amid a substantial Russian aerial assault on Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that drones posing a direct threat were intercepted and neutralized by Polish and NATO forces.

The incursion led to the temporary closure of several Polish airports, including Warsaw Chopin and Rzeszów–Jasionka, a key hub for military aid to Ukraine. Residents in affected regions were advised to remain indoors as authorities conducted searches for drone debris.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the incident as the most serious violation of European airspace by Russia since the conflict began, suggesting it was intentional. In response, Poland invoked NATO's Article 4, initiating consultations with allies to address the security threat.

The Kremlin denied intentional violations, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that accusations against Russia are often made without evidence. This event marks the first direct engagement between NATO forces and Russian military assets within NATO airspace since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.