Poland confirms two drone airspace violations, no damage reported

The Polish Armed Forces have confirmed that two drones violated the country's airspace overnight from September 2 to September 4.

According to military officials, the incursions were closely monitored and did not pose a threat, nor did they cause any damage, eliminating the need for active military engagement, Reuters reports.

General Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, addressed the incidents during a press briefing on September 4.

"We had two airspace violations," he said. "These two violations were under the full control of national forces and units assigned to the state defence system."

The drones exited Polish territory without engaging any targets or triggering defensive countermeasures. General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff, confirmed the lack of damage during the incursion.

No information was released regarding the precise location of the drone entries, and the origin of the aircraft remains unconfirmed. The incident comes amid heightened vigilance in Poland, a NATO member state, following increased drone and missile activity across the Ukrainian border.

Poland has maintained elevated airspace security measures since November 2022, when a stray Ukrainian missile inadvertently struck the village of Przewodów near the Ukrainian border, killing two civilians. The incident occurred during one of Russia's early large-scale bombardments of Ukraine, sparking immediate concerns over spillover risks from the conflict.

The latest airspace violations coincided with a massive Russian overnight offensive across Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles, targeting energy and transport infrastructure at 14 sites, and injuring at least four railway workers.

In a separate drone-related event last month, a drone crashed into a cornfield in eastern Poland. Initial investigations suggested that it had entered Polish airspace from the direction of Belarus, a close ally of Russia.

Poland continues to serve as one of Ukraine's staunchest allies within NATO, supplying weapons, humanitarian aid, and political support since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. However, as the war intensifies, Warsaw has also become increasingly cautious about the potential for border provocations and unintentional escalations.

By Vafa Guliyeva