LONDON – NATO has initiated a new mission to reinforce its eastern flank, deploying additional troops and fighter jets to Poland after a significant incursion of over a dozen Russian drones into Polish airspace. The move comes as tensions escalate following what Poland described as a deliberate and unprecedented violation of its sovereignty.
On Wednesday, 19 drones entered Polish territory. While some were successfully shot down, others crashed into fields and a residential home in eastern Poland. Warsaw has maintained the incursion was a deliberate act by Moscow. However, Russia has downplayed the incident, claiming it had “no plans to target” facilities in Poland. This event marks the most serious airspace violation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” underscoring the gravity of the situation. In response, several NATO allies have committed to strengthening the alliance’s presence in the region.
NATO Allies Respond
- Denmark will contribute two F-16 fighter jets and a warship to support Poland’s air defense. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that “Putin will stop at nothing, and he is testing us.”
- France has already pledged three Rafale fighter jets.
- Germany has committed four Eurofighter jets. Germany is also sending a brigade to Lithuania to enhance its security against potential Russian incursions.
- The UK has announced its “full commitment” to the Eastern Sentry operation and is expected to provide more details on its contributions soon.
On Friday, during an urgent UN Security Council session, Poland received strong backing from European countries and the United States. Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea reiterated Washington’s commitment, stating, “The United States stands by our Nato allies… And rest assured, we will defend every inch of Nato territory.”
Strained Diplomacy and Russia’s Stance
The incident occurred just weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a peace summit in Alaska. Shea noted that since the summit, Moscow has intensified its aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities. European leaders believe these large-scale attacks indicate Putin has no genuine interest in ending the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, blamed Ukraine’s European allies for “hindering” peace negotiations. President Trump, who has been pursuing a peace deal, also expressed frustration, telling Fox News, “My patience is running out fast.”
At the UN session, Poland’s Secretary of State Marcin Bosacki displayed photos of a downed drone and a damaged house, asserting, “We know that it was not a mistake.” In contrast, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasilly Nebenzia dismissed the claims, stating that the drones lacked the physical range to reach Poland and accusing Warsaw of “fomenting tensions.”
Meanwhile, Russia and its ally Belarus began joint military drills on Friday, which are staged every four years. The exercises, which are taking place near the borders with Poland and Lithuania, have been criticized by neighboring countries, though Moscow and Minsk insist they pose no danger. The Netherlands and Czech Republic have also confirmed they will send defenses to Poland. Sources and related content
