In the early hours between September 9 and 10, 2025, Poland experienced an unprecedented security breach when at least 19 Russian drones entered its airspace. These drones were part of a large-scale missile and drone attack launched by Russia against Ukraine. Polish air defenses, supported by NATO allies including Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, swiftly responded, shooting down several of the drones. This event marked the first time since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine that NATO forces actively engaged and neutralized Russian aerial vehicles within the territory of a member state.

The incursion forced temporary closures of several of Poland’s major airports including Warsaw International and Rzeszów-Jasionka. Although no casualties were reported, debris from the drones caused damage to residential buildings in some villages. Poland’s government characterized the incident as a deliberate violation of its airspace and of NATO’s collective security. In response, Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, requesting emergency consultations among alliance members to discuss the threat to their collective defense.

Russia denied any intent to strike Polish territory, claiming that the strikes targeted only Ukrainian military facilities and that drones deviated from their course, possibly due to Ukrainian electronic warfare measures. Belarus also reported alerting its neighbors about drones crossing its airspace, suggesting some had strayed from intended paths.

The incident has pushed NATO to accelerate military support and security measures on its eastern flank under an operation dubbed Eastern Sentry. Countries including France, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom pledged additional troops, fighter jets, and advanced air defense systems to Poland. The drones involved were mostly identified as “decoy” types, constructed with inexpensive materials and designed to overwhelm defenses rather than cause direct destruction, illustrating a shift in Russian tactics towards asymmetric drone warfare.

This brazen incursion has underscored the increasing threat posed by drones in modern conflicts and showcased Moscow’s willingness to challenge NATO’s borders in a calculated manner without escalating into full-scale conflict within alliance territory. The episode has raised alarms about regional stability and the risk of escalation, highlighting the urgent need for improved drone detection, countermeasures, and a unified NATO response to deter such provocations in the future. The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, has expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing the necessity to prevent the ongoing conflict from spilling across borders and destabilizing wider security in Europe.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from euronews.