In a sudden escalation on Wednesday, Poland confronted an unprecedented breach of its airspace by Russian military drones, prompting the country to scramble its air defenses.
This marked the first direct military clash between Poland and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, raising alarms across NATO.
Polish authorities described the incursion as repeated and serious, forcing a swift defensive response to neutralize the drones.
Residents were urged to stay indoors as military operations unfolded in several regions, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
U.S. Lawmakers Call It an Act of War
The incident quickly drew reactions from U.S. politicians.
Republican Congressman Joe Wilson labeled Russia’s drone attacks on Poland as an “act of war” and urged former President Donald Trump to impose strict sanctions on Moscow while bolstering Ukraine with advanced weaponry.
“Putin is directly testing our resolve in NATO territory,” Wilson said, emphasizing that free nations must defend their borders.
Democratic voices echoed the concern. Senator Dick Durbin tweeted that Russia was “testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations,” while Senator Chris Murphy told CNN that such incursions were “incredibly serious,” even though he had not received a full briefing.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had reportedly been briefed, but neither the White House nor the State Department had issued a public statement early Wednesday.
Poland Responds with Extraordinary Measures
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an urgent cabinet meeting and called an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers.
The government confirmed that its air defenses had successfully neutralized some of the drones.
“The operation is ongoing,” Tusk said, warning that the drones “could have posed a threat.” The Polish armed forces specified that efforts were underway to locate possible crash sites, with heightened readiness in the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions.
The NATO alliance also responded, with fighter jets stationed in Slovakia and Romania, including at least one U.S. F-35 and a refueling aircraft from the Netherlands, prepared to counter any further threats.
Airports and Airspace Affected
As a precaution, Poland reportedly closed four airports, including Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, though official confirmation was limited.
Flight tracking services indicated restricted airspace and adjusted flight paths over affected regions.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force warned that drones were heading west toward Polish territory, particularly near the city of Zamosc.
Some reports suggested one drone was approaching Rzeszow, although Polish officials did not confirm this.
Across Ukraine, air raid alerts remained active in western regions bordering Poland, including Volyn and Lviv, adding to the mounting regional tension.
Broader Military Context
The drone incursions coincided with a new wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, continuing the grinding offensive in the eastern Donetsk region.
Tragically, one airstrike in eastern Ukraine killed 24 elderly villagers collecting pensions.
Poland’s move to close its border with Belarus reflected growing concerns over joint Russia-Belarus military exercises, known as “Zapad-2025.”
These large-scale drills in western Russia and Belarus have sparked unease among NATO member states, particularly Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
The escalation underscores the fragile security situation in Eastern Europe and the continuing challenge of deterring Russian aggression while supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.