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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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Poland said it downed Russian drones that breached its airspace during a mass aerial attack by Russian forces on Ukraine, in what has been described by the Ukrainian president as an "extremely dangerous precedent for Europe."
Polish air defenses were placed on high alert overnight Tuesday following what Warsaw said was an "unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects".
European and U.S. officials have reacted with alarm to what appears to be the first case of a NATO member engaging Moscow's assets over its territory, in a war that has been raging for three and a half years.
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Nichita Gurcov, senior analyst for Europe & Central Asia with ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) told Newsweek that regardless of whether the drones were fired intentionally, their appearance over NATO territory "is bringing everyone involved into uncharted territory."
Newsweek has contacted NATO and the Russian defense ministry for comment.
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Why It Matters
Russian drones and missiles have repeatedly violated the airspace of Poland and other NATO members during strikes across large parts of Ukraine.
While Polish jets have been scrambled before following previous Russian drone bombardments, the latest attack has raised concerns over whether Moscow is, in fact, testing NATO's resolve, something which could provoke an escalation in the war.
What To Know
Russian drones and missiles were launched across Ukraine overnight Tuesday targeting mostly central and western regions, Kyiv said.
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk posted on X that during the night his country's airspace was also "violated by a huge number of Russian drones" and that those that were a direct threat were shot down.
A map by the Telegram channel Monitoring War showed the breaches of Polish territory.
The Polish Armed Forces' Operational Command said Polish and NATO aircraft, including Dutch F-35 fighters, were scrambled in an operation which was ended at 7:42 a.m. local time Wednesday and that the search for impact sites and wreckage continues.
The airspace over Poland's major air hub, Chopin International Airport in Warsaw, was temporarily closed and Polish Territorial Defence Forces were put on standby.
Officials from Ukraine and its allies voiced concern at the prospect of Vladimir Putin escalating the war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X that, "Moscow always pushes the boundaries of what is possible, and if it does not encounter a strong reaction, it remains at the new level of escalation."
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said that the Russian drones flying into Poland showed that "Putin's sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes."
U.S. Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) a member of the US House Armed Services Committee, called on President Donald Trump to impose tough sanctions on Russia and strengthen military support for Ukraine.
He said Moscow was "attacking NATO ally Poland" less than a week after Trump hosted Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House.
Europe's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, posted on X that it was the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, with indications that it was intentional.
Coupled with electronic warfare systems used by both sides to take drones off course, the escalating air war may heighten the risk of direct military engagement between Russia and NATO, which both appear to have painstakingly avoided so far, Nichita Gurcov from ACLED told Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on X: "Russian drones flying into Poland during the massive attack on Ukraine show that Putin's sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone attack was "an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe.
He added: "Whether there will be further steps depends entirely on the coordination and strength of the response. The Russians must feel the consequences."
Rep. Joe Wilson said on X: "This is an act of war, and we are grateful to NATO allies for their swift response to war criminal Putin's continued unprovoked aggression against free and productive nations."
Kaja Kallas, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy: "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 ... The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland."
Nichita Gurcov, ACLED senior analyst for Europe & Central Asia: "Regardless of whether this was indeed intentional, the downing of a Russian attack and/or decoy drones over NATO territory is bringing everyone involved into uncharted territory."
What Happens Next
Russia is yet to comment but much depends on whether this was a deliberate act by the Kremlin to test the response of NATO, whose Article 5 stipulates an attack on one member is an attack on all.
According to several media reports, Donald Tusk, while speaking to the Polish parliament, has requested that NATO's Article 4 be invoked, which allows member states to raise an issue to their respective executive decision-making bodies.
Whether the drone strikes embolden Moscow to step up incursions into NATO territory will depend on the West's response.
Update 09/10/25, 12:10 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Nichita Gurcov.
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