NEW YORK and LONDON -- Polish airspace was violated by at least 19 Russian drones overnight, the country's prime minister said, in a torrent of activity that triggered a response from the NATO country's air force, which scrambled and downed several of the drones."Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said early on Wednesday on social media."I am in constant communication with the Secretary-General of NATO and our allies."Two Polish F-16s and two Dutch F-35s were deployed to "help ensure safety in Polish skies," the military said.
The operations ended early on Wednesday, Warsaw said, adding that the search continued for downed drones and potential impact sites.People watch as a house is damaged after a drone or similar object struck a residential building according to local authorities, following violations of Polish airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine, in Wyryki municipality, Poland September 10, 2025Jakub Orzechowski/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via ReutersThe country's military command described the violations as "unprecedented," saying they amounted to "an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens."Polish authorities did not report any casualties related to the drone incursion.Tusk said this marked the first time in history that Russian drones had been shot down on NATO territory, which he said "changes the political situation."Scale of Russia's long-range attacks on Ukraine eases in August despite major strikesTusk told parliament on Wednesday that Warsaw had requested the invocation of NATO Article 4.The clause allows a NATO member to convene a meeting of allies to consult on an issue that could threaten its security.“Today we must say very loudly and clearly to the entire Western world and all our allies -- Article 4 is only the beginning of deeper cooperation for the security of our skies and our border, which is NATO’s border, and words alone are by no means enough,” Tusk sai...