Poland shoots down drones amid Russian attack on Ukraine

Poland’s military says it intercepted drones that violated its airspace during a Russian assault on Ukraine on Tuesday. This is the first time Warsaw has engaged Russian assets directly since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.

Senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, Jim Townsend, noted that the incursion signals a worrying escalation in the conflict and underscores the risks of the war spilling beyond Ukraine’s borders. Poland’s response highlights its commitment to defending national sovereignty while monitoring regional security threats.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament it was “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two”, though he also said he had “no reason to believe we’re on the brink of war”.