Poland shot down Russian drones that violated the country’s airspace early Wednesday, Polish and NATO officials said, in what some European leaders cast as an “intentional” escalation by Moscow.
It’s not the first time that drones believed to be of Russian origin have crossed into NATO airspace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But this appears to be the first time that those aircraft have been shot down by a NATO member’s military. Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for NATO’s Supreme Allied Powers Europe, said, “This is the first time NATO planes have engaged potential threats in allied airspace.”
Polish leaders said the incident marks a serious escalation.
“I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it’s incomparably more dangerous than before,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told his parliament Wednesday, according to English-language media accounts of his remarks.
“This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II,” he said.
Nineteen drones reportedly crossed into Polish airspace. At least four of them were reportedly shot down, though other media reports Wednesday indicated that the number may be higher. The Polish military was still searching for all of the crash sites Wednesday morning.
SEE ALSO: WATCH: U.S. Ambassador to NATO lays out international plans
Aircraft from several NATO nations were involved in shooting down the drones. In addition to Polish aircraft, the Netherlands reportedly supported the action with its own F-35 fighter jets.
There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin. But Russia’s state-run Tass News Agency stressed in its coverage that “no official information has yet been provided about the origin of the [drone] wreckage discovered.”
The drones appear to have crossed into Poland from Belarus, according to reports. In fact, Belarus said it also shot down some drones in its airspace that had gone off course because of electronic jamming, Reuters reported Wednesday.
But European leaders said the incident represents a dangerous escalation by Moscow. Some officials immediately rejected the idea that it was an accident.
“Last night in Poland, we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental,” Kaja Kallas, the top diplomat for the European Union, said in a social media post.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the incident is the latest example of the threat Russia poses to Europe.
“It is clear that Russian aggression poses a danger to every independent nation in our region, and therefore only joint and coordinated action can guarantee reliable security,” he said.
Leaders from Britain, France and other European nations also slammed the apparent drone incursion.
The drone shoot-down comes on the heels of a massive Russian drone assault on Kyiv, the latest in a string of deadly assaults.
The incident also comes amid President Trump’s push for a ceasefire deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Some European nations have indicated they’re willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to enforce such a deal.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.