Newsroom
Poland’s armed forces shot down drones that crossed into its territory during Russia’s latest barrage against Ukraine, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday, calling the incident an “act of aggression” against his country.
The airspace over Warsaw was briefly shut down, grounding flights at Chopin International Airport, after the military confirmed that fighter jets used weapons against “hostile objects.” NATO and Washington were notified immediately, officials said.
Polish citizens report that Polish Air Force and NATO Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) wings' warplanes are flying over non-stop in Rzeszów and Eastern Poland aiming to shootdown Russian UAVs.
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 10, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he’s been briefed on reports of Russian… pic.twitter.com/yYWmDtPKwY
“This is a serious operation responding to repeated violations of Polish airspace,” Tusk wrote on X, adding that he is in constant contact with Poland’s president and military commanders.
Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that the Air Force engaged the intruding drones. “We are in constant communication with NATO command,” he said. NATO air defense systems were also activated during the incident, according to Reuters.
The Polish military described the drone entry as a direct threat. “This is an act of aggression that posed a real danger to our citizens,” the Armed Forces’ operational command said, noting that reserve forces have been put on alert in case of further escalation.
Russian drones attack Poland
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 9, 2025
Shaheds have crossed the border and are moving towards Polish cities, monitoring groups report.
▪️ Rzeszów airport — the main hub for arms supplies to Ukraine — has been urgently closed.
▪️ Polish Air Force scrambled, air defense active.… pic.twitter.com/7KkiolgKru
Across the Atlantic, U.S. officials acknowledged the gravity of the situation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN he was aware of the violations, while Senator Dick Durbin warned that Russia may be “testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic states.”
Under NATO’s Article 5, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, though officials have not indicated that the alliance is moving toward that step. Tusk said NATO’s secretary general has already been briefed.
The incursion highlights the risk of Russia’s war in Ukraine spilling over into neighboring NATO countries, a scenario the alliance has long feared could widen the conflict.
