Poland Says Russian Drone Incursion Was a Kremlin Test of NATO’s Readiness
Published : 00:44, 15 September 2025
Poland has accused Russia of conducting a deliberate drone incursion into its airspace in an apparent test of NATO's resolve. According to Polish officials, approximately 19 to 23 drones launched from Russian and possibly Belarusian territory entered Polish airspace during the night of 9–10 September 2025.
While some of these drones were intercepted and shot down by NATO forces, including Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, and German Patriot systems, at least three to four, or up to four, were confirmed to have been brought down. In one instance, debris from a drone damaged a residential building in the village of Wyryki-Wola in eastern Poland, though no casualties have been reported.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as a “large-scale provocation,” asserting that the drones posed a direct threat. Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, triggering consultations among member states, rather than Article 5, which signals collective defense. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte pledged that the alliance stood ready to defend “every inch” of its member states.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski characterized the incursion as a calculated move by the Kremlin to probe NATO’s response without sparking a full-scale war. He emphasized that the drones, though capable of carrying explosives, were unarmed, suggesting their purpose was strategic rather than destructive.
Russia downplayed the incident, calling assertions of deliberate aggression “nothing new” and insisting its navy exercises near the Polish border were routine. Meanwhile, NATO and European leaders expressed alarm at the breach, calling on Moscow to respect international borders.
The incursion has prompted NATO to initiate "Operation Eastern Sentry", mobilizing additional forces, including fighter jets and naval assets from allies such as France, Germany, Denmark, and the UK, to bolster defense along NATO’s eastern flank.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press
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