Poland intercepts Russian drones in its airspace

Poland said Wednesday it had scrambled aircraft alongside allies to shoot down "hostile objects" violating its airspace during a Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine, a first for a NATO country during the war.

Ukraine warned that Russia's leader was "testing the West" and called for its allies to mount a strong response or risk Russian drones flying "even further into Europe".

The incursion came as Russia unleashed a barrage of strikes across Ukraine, including in the western city of Lviv, around 50 miles (80 kilometres) from the Polish border. 

"Aircraft have used weapons against hostile objects," Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on social media, adding: "We are in constant contact with NATO command."

Russian drones and missiles have entered the airspace of NATO members -- including Poland -- several times during Russia's three-and-a-half-year war, but a NATO country has never attempted to shoot them down.

A cornerstone of the Western military alliance is the principle that an attack on any member is deemed an attack on all. 

The operational command of Poland's military slammed the "unprecedented" airspace violations, saying it had spotted around a dozen drone-type objects, some of which were shot down.

"This is an act of aggression that has created a real threat to the safety of our citizens," it said. 

Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that weapons had been used against the invading objects, saying on social media that an "operation related to multiple violations of Polish airspace is underway". 

The Polish government announced it will hold an "extraordinary" cabinet meeting at 8:00 am (0600 GMT).

The Polish army said around the same time that it had finished intercepting the drones in its airspace.

- 'Provocation' -

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X that the incursion showed "that (Russian President Vladimir) 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," Sybiga said. "The longer he faces no strength in response, the more aggressive he gets."

"A weak response now will provoke Russia even more -- and then Russian missiles and drones will fly even further into Europe," he added.

EP President's reaction  

European Parliament president Roberta Metsoa said Poland has every right to defend itself. "We are still looking at what has happened. We have seen the declaration of the Polish government and the Prime Minister but make no mistake, Poland has every right to defend itself against any attack. The European Union stands united. This is not only a European Member State but also a state member of NATO. And this is where not only do our common defence capabilities and our security come into question. But also how prepared we are to make sure that we prepare for any such attack," she said.

Polish authorities closed the airspace over part of the country, according to a statement from Warsaw's main Chopin Airport, where flights were halted. 

The incident came a day after Poland's newly elected nationalist President Karol Nawrocki warned that Putin was ready to invade more countries after launching his war in Ukraine.

"We do not trust Vladimir Putin's good intentions," Nawrocki told reporters Tuesday at a press conference in Helsinki.

"We believe that Vladimir Putin is ready to also invade other countries."

EU's Kallas says Polish 'airspace violation by Russia' seemed 'intentional'  

The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said that Russia appeared to have intentionally violated Polish airspace, after Warsaw scrambled jets to shoot down drones. 

"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," Kallas wrote on X. 

"The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland. Russia's war is escalating, not ending," Kallas wrote.    

NATO-member Poland, a major supporter of Ukraine, hosts over a million Ukrainian refugees and is a key transit point for Western humanitarian and military aid to the war-torn country.

Last month, Warsaw said a Russian military drone flew into its airspace and exploded in farmland in eastern Poland, calling the incident a "provocation".

Poland in 2023 said a Russian missile had crossed into its airspace to strike Ukraine.

And in November 2022, two civilians were killed when a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile fell on a village near the border. 

Belarus says it also shot down drones over its airspace overnight 

Moscow ally Belarus said Wednesday it had shot down drones over its airspace overnight, after Poland said it had downed several Russian drones that were flying through its airspace to attack Ukraine.

Belarus' army said it had "destroyed" drones that had "lost their track" as a result of what it said was electronic jamming and interception by both Kyiv and Moscow.

It did not say if the drones it downed were Russian or Ukrainian, but added that it had informed Poland's air force about drones that were heading towards the country.