NATO Responds to Russian Drone Incursion in Poland

On the night of 9–10 September 2025, Poland’s airspace was violated by a swarm of Russian drones, marking a dangerous new episode in the Russia-Ukraine war. Polish radar detected at least 19 unmanned aerial vehicles entering from the east, prompting Polish Air Force jets – with immediate backup from NATO allied aircraft – to scramble and intercept the intruders. Several of the drones were shot down in Poland’s skies, the first-ever direct NATO engagementwith Russian military hardware over NATO territory since the war began. Prime Minister Donald Tusk denounced the incursion as an “unprecedented” provocation, warning that it brought the region “closer to open conflict than at any time since World War II.”

Poland quickly invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, requesting urgent consultations with NATO allies. Within hours, the Alliance convened an emergency meeting to discuss the security breach, and the UN Security Council scheduled a crisis briefing at Poland’s request. Multiple European members of the Council condemned the drone incursion as a major violation of NATO and EU airspace, emphasizing that such aggression was “dangerous and unacceptable.”Fortunately, there were no casualties on the ground – Polish authorities reported some property damage in villages (one drone smashed into a house, demolishing its roof) but no injuries to civilians. The incident nonetheless sent shockwaves through NATO capitals, given its scale and potential to spark a broader conflict.

What Triggered This Breach of Polish Airspace?

The drone incursions coincided with a massive Russian aerial offensive against Ukraine that same night. Russia had launched over 400 attack drones and around 40 missiles at targets across Ukraine – one of the largest barrages of the war. Some strikes hit western Ukrainian regions near the Polish border, including the city of Lviv, just ~80 km from Poland.

There are conflicting narratives about how and why the drones entered Poland. Polish officials are convinced it was a deliberate act. They note that multiple drones flew a coordinated pattern into Poland – not a random drift – and have flatly rejected any suggestion of an accident. “There's no question of a mistake – this was a deliberate Russian attack,” a Polish deputy defence minister said after the incident.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called Wednesday's incident a "large-scale provocation" by Russia. By Reuters.

Belarus, however, offered a different explanation: they claimed that Russian drones flying over Ukraine were jammed by Ukrainian air defenses and veered off course into Belarus, then into Poland, inadvertently. According to Belarusian officials, its military even alerted Poland and Lithuania as the wayward drones approached their borders, and Belarus’ own air defenses shot down several drones over its territory.

Moscow, for its part, denied targeting Poland, insisting that any drones seen over NATO territory were simply a spillover from a focused attack on Ukrainian military sites. Russia’s Defense Ministry stressed it had “not planned to hit any targets in Poland” during its strikes.

In short, Russia and Belarus portray the incident as an unfortunate side-effect of the war just across the border, whereas Poland and its NATO allies believe it was a calculated provocation to test NATO’s defenses.

Background: A War Raging Next Door and Past Close Calls

This crisis highlights what NATO leaders have feared since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022: that the war might spill over into neighboring NATO countries. Ukraine shares borders with four NATO members, and since 2022 there have been occasional cross-border incidents.

Poland itself has experienced a few alarming incursions before. Just last month, Warsaw reported that a Russian military drone flew into Polish territory and exploded on farmland in the east of the country – an incident the Polish government labeled a deliberate “provocation.” In November 2022, a projectile tragically hit a Polish village near the Ukrainian border, killing two farmers. That blast initially set off panic about a direct Russian attack on NATO, but investigations determined it was a Ukrainian air-defense missile fired to intercept a Russian rocket.

Romania, too, has repeatedly found debris from Russian drones on its territory after attacks on Ukrainian ports. The Baltic states have reported airspace violations by Russian drones or aircraft as well. But this week’s drone swarm over Poland crossed a red line – it was large-scale, prolonged, and directly engaged by NATO fighters.

NATO’s Immediate Response – Article 4 Activated and Allies on Alert

As the drones penetrated Polish airspace, Poland’s military – and NATO’s integrated air defense network – sprang into action. Polish F-16 fighter jets scrambled, joined by two Dutch Air Force F-35 stealth fighters. Italian AWACS surveillance planes and a tanker aircraft provided support. By the time the incursion was over, at least 8 drones had been shot down, most of them by the Dutch F-35s.

Polish teams later recovered wreckage from 16 drones at sites across eastern and central Poland. As a precaution, Poland temporarily closed several airports, including Warsaw Chopin Airport and Rzeszów-Jasionka near Ukraine. Air raid sirens blared in some eastern provinces, and residents were urged to stay indoors during the confrontation.

Poland also triggered NATO’s Article 4 consultation mechanism. “Allies expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia’s reckless behavior,” said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte after the meeting. Prime Minister Tusk pressed for concrete NATO measures to strengthen air defenses, stressing that “words alone are by no means enough.”

To reinforce deterrence, NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry on 12 September, a mission to bolster air defenses along the alliance’s eastern flank. France deployed Rafale jets, Denmark sent F-16s and an anti-aircraft frigate, Germany dispatched Eurofighter Typhoons, and the UK and Spain pledged additional units. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe reassured allies: “Poland and citizens from across the alliance should be assured by our rapid response.”

Consequences and What Happens Next

Even as NATO strengthens defenses, leaders are careful to avoid uncontrolled escalation. NATO did not escalate to Article 5, which would mandate collective defense, reflecting caution since the drones caused no casualties.

Still, the incident has prompted questions about NATO’s ability to respond to swarms of cheap drones and highlighted the urgent need for better counter-drone technology. Poland has imposed a temporary ban on civilian drones and lightweight aircraft in its eastern regions to avoid confusion in future intercepts.

Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus launched their Zapad 2025 joint military exercise just days later, fueling suspicion that the drone incursion was a test ahead of maneuvers. Poland closed border crossings with Belarus as a precaution, and NATO increased surveillance flights.

UN officials warned that incidents like this demonstrate the “real risk of expansion” of the Ukraine war. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo stressed that only “a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace” can remove the shadow of conflict from Europe.

A Call for Peace

This drone incursion was a close call. Had civilians been killed or NATO aircraft lost, escalation might have been inevitable. Instead of doubling down on militarization, leaders must heed the lesson: unity, diplomacy, and de-escalation are the only path to safety.

Every drone or missile that crosses a border is a reminder that war anywhere endangers peace everywhere. The only real protection lies not in higher walls of defense, but in breaking the cycle of hostility and building trust.

Join us in demanding peace. Add your voice to Pledge4Peace’s campaign to end the Ukraine–Russia war and create a permanent peace. Together, we can push for dialogue over destruction and unity over division.

Vote now for peace

Hero image: At 1:13 a.m. Wednesday, the first drone is shot down by a Dutch F-35 fighter jet. | John Thys/AFP via Getty Images