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By Brendan Cole and Shane Croucher
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The Kremlin said it did not want to comment on Poland's accusation that Russian drones violated the NATO ally's airspace, leading to several of the devices being shot down.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, instead deferred questions about it to the Russian Ministry of Defense, state-run news agency TASS reported.
The defense ministry said in a statement there had been no planned strikes on Polish territory. Russia's envoy to Poland said that there was no evidence that the drones were Russian and that Warsaw's accusations were "groundless."
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Why It Matters
Russia has conducted repeated drone and missile bombardments of Ukrainian infrastructure, including a major attack last night. But on this occasion, Poland says 19 drones flew over its territory of which four were shot down. NATO stated that it was the first time its aircraft had engaged potential threats in allied airspace.
This has raised fears of a confrontation between Russia and a NATO member, and an escalation of the war that Kyiv's allies had warned about.
The alliance activated Article 4 of NATO's treaty in which members will discuss the security concerns involved although it does not obligate any military action. Russia's statements appear to be trying to show that the incursion was not intentional amid speculation that Moscow was seeking to test the alliance's resolve.
What To Know
Poland confirmed on Wednesday its defenses had downed Russian drones in its airspace during a mass Russian aerial attack on Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw formally requested the consultations under Article 4, in which members hold discussions if they believe their security is threatened, without triggering an automatic military response.
On the Mayak radio station on Wednesday, Peskov was asked about Tusk's accusation that Russian drones had breached Poland's air space and his invocation of NATO's Article 4, which calls for alliance members to convene.
Peskov replied that he did not want to comment because it was within the competence of the defense ministry.
The Russian defense ministry issued a statement on Telegram which said that Moscow conducted large-scale strikes on Ukraine's military sites in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr regions, as well as in the cities of Vinnytsia and Lviv and that all targets had been hit.
It said that no targets on Polish territory were planned and that the maximum range of the Russian drones which allegedly crossed the border with Poland did not exceed 700 kilometers (450 miles.)
Russia always claims its drone and missile strikes target military sites but Ukraine says these frequently hit civilian infrastructure.
Answering a follow-up question about European and NATO accusations that Moscow had staged a provocation, Peskov said that these blocs accuse Russia of provocations "every day, usually without even trying to present any arguments for them."
What People Are Saying
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said regarding Poland's accusations of drones entering the NATO country: "We don't want to comment, it is not within our competence, and is the prerogative of the defense ministry of the Russian Federation."
Russian Ministry of Defense in a statement: "No targets on the territory of Poland were planned...nevertheless, we are ready to hold consultations on this matter with Poland's Ministry of Defense."
Russia's charge d'affaires in Warsaw, Andrei Ordash, according to Russian media: Russia "is absolutely not interested in any escalation with Poland."
What Happens Next
Polish government spokesperson Adam Szlapka has confirmed that Article 4 has been activated and NATO's decision-making body will meet to assess the threat and Poland's evidence.
Update 09/10/2025, 09:45 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
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