Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says Russia appears to have intentionally violated Polish airspace in an happening that Poland’s prime minister says involved a “huge number” of Russian drones that entered the country’s airspace during attacks on western Ukraine.
Poland claims it shot down drone-like objects that breached its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine. It’s the first time a member of the NATO military alliance has directly confronted Russian assets in its airspace since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
“Last night in Poland we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental,”
Kallas writes on X.
“The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland. Russia’s war is escalating, not ending,”
noted.
After the incident, European Union Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has stated that the EU needs to create a “drone wall” along the eastern border of its shared territory.
“Once again Russia tests frontier states, EU & NATO,”
Kubilius writes on X.
“We shall work together with Member States, frontier countries and Ukraine. Russia will be stopped.”
What triggered the russian drones’ breach into Polish airspace?
As reported by the BBC, it occurred during the latest Russian attack across Ukraine, where the air raid alert started before midnight, with warnings of over 100 drones in the air, and Russia reportedly preparing missiles for launch.
At the same time, as Ukrainians sought refuge in underground shelters, the online channels they had been watching started reporting the presence of several drones crossing into Poland.
Poland’s military has described the incident as an “unprecedented breach of Polish airspace” and an “act of aggression that presented a genuine threat to the safety of our citizens.”
How are Poland’s fellow NATO members reacting to Russia’s drone violations?
Poland’s fellow NATO nations have released statements expressing solidarity and concerns, European media reported.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has described Russia’s breaches of Polish airspace as “unacceptable”.
“The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine poses a threat to the security of all of Europe.
Poland has every right to defend its airspace. We give our full support to Poland, as a NATO ally and EU member. Sweden and Poland stand united in our support for Ukraine,”
He said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has voiced his “full support and solidarity” with Poland and its allies. He stated,
“Russian aggression in Ukraine affects us directly, and appropriate measures must be taken”.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also called Moscow’s action “deeply concerning and entirely unacceptable”, reaffirming Norway’s “steadfast support for our ally Poland and our shared commitment to European security”.
