Poland on Wednesday said they have shot down multiple Russian drones that entered the country’s airspace while carrying out a major attack on western Ukraine, as the NATO member state denounced the airspace violation by Moscow as an “act of aggression.”
KEY FACTS
In a post on X, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote, “ Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones,” which “posed a direct threat” and were therefore shot down.
Tusk added that he is in “constant communication” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Poland’s allies.
The Polish military command said its radars tracked more than 10 objects, which were deemed as threats and “neutralized” them in response, Reuters reported.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, tweeted: “Efforts are underway to search for and identify the possible crash sites of the objects.”
As a result of the drone incursion, Polish authorities shut down the airspace over Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, the country’s largest and busiest airport, for several hours.
HOW HAD UKRAINE REACTED TO THE INCIDENT?
In a post on X, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said: “Russian drones flying into Poland during the massive attack on Ukraine show that Putin’s sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes. Putin just keeps escalating, expanding his war, and testing the West.”
NATO MEMBERS REACTION?
The Russian incursion prompted immediate condemnation from leaders of several other European NATO states. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X, “Russia’s violations of Polish airspace last night are unacceptable. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine poses a threat to the security of all of Europe. Poland has every right to defend its airspace. We give our full support to Poland, as a NATO ally and EU member.” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, tweeted: “Russia is deliberately expanding its aggression, posing an ever-growing threat to Europe. The drone swarm over Polish territory is yet another proof, as is its threatening rhetoric towards NATO’s Eastern flank. The world must stop the aggressor — break its war economy and its ability to destroy and kill.”
