Poland’s military says it shot down more than 10 drones which violated its airspace during a Russian attack on western Ukraine.
Both Polish and NATO air defences were scrambled after drones ‘repeatedly’ violated the country’s airspace.
Those that posed a threat were ‘neutralised’ and searches to find their crash sites are ongoing.
Poland’s military command warned: ‘This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.’
This is the first time Poland has got involved in the war in its neighbouring nation.
Most of Ukraine, including western regions of Volyn and Lviv which border Poland, had been under air raid alerts nearly all night, according to Ukraine’s air force.
Poles have been urged to stay at home, with the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions considered the most at risk.
Chopin Airport in Warsaw, the country’s largest, closed its airspace for around two hours due to military activity.
Flight tracking data showed a number of flights due to land there this morning were instead diverted to airports in Katowice, Wroclaw and Poznan.
A spokesperson said: ‘Due to the situation related to the restrictions and prior closure of the airspace, disruptions and delays are to be expected, which may last throughout the day.’
Ukraine’s foreign minister said the Russian drones entering Polish airspace show Vladimir Putin’s impunity and his expansion of the war.
Andrii Sybiha said on X: ‘Putin just keeps escalating, expanding his war, and testing the West.
‘This situation shows that finally the decision needs to be taken to enable partner air defence capabilities in neighbouring countries to be used to intercept drones and missiles in the Ukrainian air space, including those approaching NATO borders.’
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was in ‘constant contact’ with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Over in the US, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones were a sign that ‘Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations’.
Ben Hodges, former commander of US Army forces in Europe, said the number of incursions by Russian drones into NATO airspace ‘make it clear that these are intentional tests of NATO and national air defenses and early warning systems’.
He told Reuters: ‘We need to be able to respond effectively, each time. We certainly could be doing more.’
NATO warplanes based in Poland have been scrambled several times since the war began to protect its 332-mile long border with Ukraine.
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