Poland convened its NATO allies for emergency talks on Wednesday after Russian drones violated Polish airspace during overnight strikes on Ukraine, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced.
Calling the incident a “large-scale provocation”, Tusk said Poland had identified 19 airspace violations and downed at least three drones with the help of allied aircraft. No casualties were reported.
It is the first time NATO aircraft have shot down Russian drones inside allied airspace since Moscow launched its full-scale war against Ukraine more than three years ago.
Tusk confirmed that Warsaw had invoked NATO’s Article 4, which allows a member state to request urgent consultations when it feels its security or territorial integrity is threatened. It is only the eighth time in the alliance’s history that the clause has been triggered.
The North Atlantic Council altered its regular meeting format on Wednesday to respond under Article 4. NATO officials said discussions would focus on reinforcing deterrence in Eastern Europe.
Poland’s military command described the violations as “unprecedented” and “an act of aggression”, while summoning Russia’s ambassador in Warsaw. Moscow has denied responsibility and demanded proof.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the breach set a “dangerous precedent” and urged a robust Western response, warning that Russia aimed to “humiliate” Poland.
The attack came as Russia launched heavy strikes across Ukraine, including Lviv, just 80 kilometres from the Polish border. Poland briefly closed parts of its airspace, while authorities confirmed property damage from drone debris.
Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, reiterated fears that Vladimir Putin could extend aggression beyond Ukraine, stressing that Warsaw would not “trust Putin’s good intentions.”
Poland, one of Kyiv’s strongest backers, hosts more than a million Ukrainian refugees and serves as a vital corridor for Western aid into Ukraine.