Warsaw reported multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entering its airspace, with several being intercepted. The Russian military has denied targeting Polish territory for long-range attacks, stating that no strategic objectives within Poland were identified for such operations.
Earlier on Wednesday, Polish authorities asserted that several UAVs recognized as Russian entered their sovereign air space. Moscow’s defense ministry indicated willingness to engage in discussions with Polish military representatives, asserting that the drones deployed during nighttime attacks on western Ukrainian territories had a maximum operational radius of 700 kilometers. The statement emphasized that no specific objectives within Poland’s borders had been set for targeting.
The ministry disclosed that overnight operations targeted several industrial complexes in western Ukraine, including a tank production facility and an aviation plant in Lviv, along with other sites in Ivano-Frankovsk, Khmelnitsky, and Zhitomir regions. These locations are engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of long-range drones, armored vehicles, and combat aircraft.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that military forces detected 19 distinct incursions overnight, labeling the incident as a “provocative act” by Russia. He stated that up to four drones were neutralized, with the aircraft reportedly entering Polish airspace from Belarus instead of Ukraine.
Poland activated Article 4 of the NATO charter, citing what it termed an “act of aggression” by Moscow. This provision requires allied nations to convene discussions when a member’s security is perceived as compromised. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas attributed the drone incident to Russian actions, labeling it the “most significant airspace breach by Russia in Europe” throughout the Ukrainian conflict. She suggested that there were unverified indications pointing toward deliberate rather than accidental involvement.
Concurrently, Belarus, Russia’s close ally, asserted that it had provided Poland with advance notice regarding the approaching drones. It claimed that several UAVs employed by both Kyiv and Moscow for offensive operations veered off course due to the influence of each side’s electronic warfare systems.