WARSAW, Poland — Polish fighter jets intercepted and destroyed multiple Russian drones overnight after they crossed into Poland’s airspace during a large-scale strike on Ukraine, officials said Wednesday.
Authorities confirmed that about 19 drones entered Polish territory between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. At least eight were shot down by Polish F-16s, supported by NATO aircraft and defense systems. Debris was found in several locations, including Wyryki-Kolonia, where one drone damaged a home but caused no injuries.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the incursion as a deliberate act of aggression and requested NATO consultations under Article 4. Several airports, including Warsaw Chopin and Rzeszów-Jasionka, were temporarily closed during the operation.
NATO described the incident as unprecedented, marking the first time alliance forces have directly engaged Russian equipment in European airspace since the war began. Russia denied targeting Poland, suggesting technical errors or interference had diverted the drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the violation a serious escalation and urged a strong international response. European leaders also condemned the incident, with some pushing for tougher sanctions on Moscow.
Officials said recovery and investigation efforts are ongoing. Poland has increased air patrols and remains on high alert amid concerns the conflict could spill further into NATO territory.
