Media: Poland calls for stronger NATO air defence after Russian drone incursion

Poland has asked allies for additional air defence and counter-drone systems after a Russian drone crossed into its territory, marking the first time it shot down military aircraft since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The appeal comes after Polish authorities intercepted drones during Russia’s latest large-scale air attack on Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports per Bloomberg.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski emphasised the need for advanced protection, stating, “We need Patriots because drones aren’t the only form of the Russian threat to our airspace. We also need an ‘anti-drone wall.’”

Sources familiar with the matter said Warsaw is consulting NATO allies about providing additional support. The incident prompted Poland to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, triggering consultations that could pave the way for coordinated action among member states.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey called the drone flights “dangerous, reckless, unprecedented,” and said the UK is evaluating options to respond to Poland’s request. This could include redeploying some of the six Typhoon jets previously stationed in Poland as part of NATO’s air-policing mission, according to one source close to the discussions.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk indicated that Poland may already be receiving offers of support. In a post on X, he said that discussions with leaders from France, the UK, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands had yielded “proposals for concrete support for the air defence of our country.”

Despite the willingness of some allies, providing advanced systems such as Patriots may be challenging. Germany’s deputy defence minister Jens Plötner noted, “Collectively we think at the moment, given the murderous raids of the Russian military on Ukraine, they are best positioned in the future in Ukraine. This does not mean that we are shying away from our responsibility to protect NATO.”

Any NATO-level action would require consensus, including backing from US President Donald Trump, who plans to speak with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Trump commented on the incident in a Truth Social post: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!”

The drone incursion has raised broader concerns over European security. While the US and EU allies consider new measures to pressure Russia, Trump has suggested imposing sweeping tariffs on India and China to encourage Putin to negotiate with Ukraine, contingent on EU participation.

Polish and Dutch jets intercepted several drones early Wednesday, with German Patriots placed on alert and other allied aircraft deployed to assist. Polish authorities reported 19 airspace violations, many originating from Belarusian territory.

Tusk condemned the incursion as an “act of aggression” and an “intentional provocation from Moscow,” prompting the closure of eastern Polish airspace and advising citizens to remain indoors. He told parliament, “There is no reason to claim that we are currently at war. However, there is no doubt that this provocation exceeds previous limits and is incomparably more dangerous for Poland than all previous ones.”

Allied leaders denounced Russia’s actions, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressing solidarity. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the violation “absolutely reckless,” while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested “indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental.” A senior NATO diplomat agreed, citing the high number of drones involved.

Ukrainian ambassador to NATO Alyona Getmanchuk said the incident highlights the urgent need for allies to implement security guarantees for Ukraine and strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.

Russia’s defence ministry stated that its forces did not target Polish territory, claiming the strike was aimed at Ukrainian defence plants and expressing willingness for consultations with Poland. Belarusian authorities said drones veered off course due to signal jamming and that Warsaw and Vilnius were informed.

The incident affected Poland’s financial markets. The zloty dropped 0.5% against the euro, the WIG20 index fell 2.6%, and dollar-denominated bonds declined. No casualties were reported, though drone debris struck a house in Wyryki Wola, less than 15 kilometres from the Belarusian border.

Poland, positioned on NATO’s eastern flank, has consistently supported Ukraine in resisting Russia’s invasion. Last month, the Polish defence minister described a previous drone crash in eastern Poland as a provocation. In November 2022, a stray missile killed two people in Przewodow, later attributed to Ukrainian efforts to intercept Russian rockets.

By Aghakazim Guliyev