Poland says it shot down Russian drones in its airspace for the first time in Ukraine war
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Polish military scrambled NATO and its own jets after Russian drones entered its airspace while attacking Ukraine, it said early Wednesday, making this the first time Warsaw has directly engaged with Moscow's assets since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"During today's attack by the Russian Federation targeting objects on the territory of Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly violated by drone-type objects," the Polish military operational command said in a post on X.
The military also advised people to stay home as the operation was still ongoing. The areas most at risk were mostly along eastern Poland, namely Podlaskie, which directly borders Ukraine, as well as Mazowieckie and Lublin.
"An operation is underway aimed at identifying and neutralizing these objects ... weapons have been used, and service personnel are carrying out actions to locate the downed objects," the military command said.
"The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces is monitoring the situation, and subordinate forces and units remain on full readiness for immediate response," it added.
This is the first time Poland — or NATO assets — have directly engaged with Russian targets since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Radars operated by Poland and NATO had tracked several drones before some of them were shot down, the Polish military said in a separate statement on X, adding it was locating the crash sites.
At least three airports across Poland, including the Chopin Airport in Warsaw, were "not available due to unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security," according to NOTAM alerts on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration website.
Known as "Notice to Airmen," these alerts inform aircrews about time-sensitive aerial conditions for safe flying.
"The airport remains open, but no flight operations are currently taking place," the Chopin airport said in a post on X.
Southwest of Warsaw, the Lublin airport was also closed, according to a NOTAM. The Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, a logistical hub for military and passenger transfers to Ukraine, was also closed.
The Polish engagement came as the Ukrainian air force earlier warned that Russian drones had entered Poland's airspace and posed a threat to the city of Zamosc, before later removing that statement from the Telegram messaging app, Reuters reported.
The Ukrainian air force issued warnings of dozens of Russian drones and missiles attacking its own territory early Wednesday.
Poland and the U.S. are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which at its core is a mutual defense pact, meaning an attack on one is an attack on all.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighboring Poland has remained on high alert, especially after a stray Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village just a few months into the war in 2022 and killed two people there. Stray Russian missiles have also briefly entered Polish airspace on at least two occasions.
In the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CNN he had been briefed on reports of Russian drones over Poland as he left a dinner with President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the NATO airspace violation was a sign that, "Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations."
"After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored," he said on X.
Reuters contributed.
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Way to go Poland!
And I thought NATO countries were too chicken to get involved....
I'm sure putin's official spokesman in the USA, trump, will provide the kremlin's spin on the story very soon ...
Well when some foreign prick's drones are detected in one's own backyard, that would be the natural response. That is, unless it is a Chinese balloon doing who knows what the hell, and giving it time to traverse the country prior to shooting it down.
I'm going to start calling you Ringo Starr for never missing a beat. ; -)
but, but, but, what about ...
Which is better than being totally oblivious to Chinese balloons crossing the country.
And that happened when again?
Sure, let the mission complete and THEN pop it............wouldn't want to piss someone off now would we. /s
Do you really think the Poles don't know the difference between a drone and a balloon?
Graphic from Epstein's 50th Birthday Book
While those girls are definitely underage-- what Epstein is holding are not drones! (You don't have to be a Pole to know which way the _____ goes!)
During the Trump administration.
Your idea is better? Pop over the US where it coming down may hurt or kill someone? Especially when we had no idea what the balloon was carrying?
When? Please show your work.
Google too difficult?
Trump-era Chinese spy balloons went undetected
Chinese spy balloons under Trump not discovered until after Biden took office
Trump Officials Admit Chinese Spy Balloons Flew Over U.S. During Previous Administration According To Latest Report
Surveillance balloons were flown over U.S. at least three times during Trump administration, White House says
Top general says Trump-era spy balloons flew over the U.S. undetected
from one of your sources............
Brief periods of time........
I do stand corrected however, degrees matter........a LOT in this case.
Wow..... You had to dig deep through all my links to find something, anything to try and give your cult leader some kind of response. You're missing a small detail however.
1 balloon fly over for Biden, multiple balloon fly overs for Trump. Trump missed every single one of them.
Really? Did those balloons dawdle or fly over practically (although TPTB admitted they missed them due to the speed at which they traveled) at the speed of sound??
Nope just read one of the links you provided. It just so happens that it was the one with the admission.
Yet it also confirmed that he missed multiple balloons. You're not concerned with that part though because it makes your cult leader look bad.
There is a difference between protecting your borders and protecting someone else's borders.
but...but...that's not what I've been hearing around here. I've been hearing that Europe needs to step up in defense of Ukraine
That border is both! The Ukrainian border and the Polish border.
(You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the border goes!)
Are you really suggesting you don't know what I meant?
NATO country defends its border …… news at eleven ……
Still has to be a way to blame trump
Or #Epstein!
Which #NATO country, specifically, are you referring to?
Really?
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Sounds about right.
So do we send air defense systems and munitions to Poland or to Ukraine? Do we beef up defenses on NATO's borders or supply Ukraine?
Seems like Russia is forcing Europe to choose priorities. Whether or not that's intentional really doesn't matter.
Based on your comment-- could it be possible that you are the one mentioning that its a choice. As far as I know we've been sending arms to Poland all along and possibly to Ukraine intermittently-- but I'm not entirely sure...may I'll google it!)
(And FWIW, this has nothing to do with sending weapons-- or even balloons-- to Epstein & Trump's girlies!)
So, the war has really been more about NATO than about Ukraine?
Poland invoking Article 4 has a higher priority than Ukraine. The United States has NATO obligations with Poland. Zelenskyy will be so jealous.
Why do you think one is higher priority than the other?
A strong Poland as well as a strong Ukraine is in our interests.
Articles 13 & 14 are interesting.
I don't think Europe lets Putin "force them around"! (Perhaps you are confusing #Trump with #Europe???)
Unless natural gas and oil is involved. Europe did stop buying coal from Russia after the 2022 invasion; what a sacrifice.
Poland first, by NATO charter. The ONLY NATO country besides Estonia to pay a larger % of GDP to fund NATO than the US. Based on 2024.
Are you not aware of the fact that Ukraine borders Russia?
(Don't believe me-- look ar a map!)
Are you not aware that the United States shares a border with Russia? Where's the NATO assistance to defend our border with Russia?
Are you trying to imply that the U.S. has no militsry presence in Alaska?
Or are you saying that we do have a military presence in Alaska, but that still countries in Europe should send troops into Alaska to help our troops there?
(Why such a low opinion about the U.S. military???
)
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Are you attempting to acknowledge that the United States is NATO? Are you admitting that NATO doesn't exist without the US military? Have we finally gotten around to the fact that NATO is nothing more than a welfare program for Europe?
If NATO is responsible for defending the member states then, yes, other NATO members should be contributing troops and weapons for the defense of the US border with Alaska. If the United States is expected to defend that border alone, then that defense should be considered a contribution to NATO.
Europeans had better thank the American taxpayer (and American suckers) for keeping them free, safe, and prosperous.
"Are you not aware that the United States shares a border with Russia?"
Most people are not aware of Big Diomede Island and Little Diomede Island in the Bering Strait. Big Diomede is actually a part of Russia that is the Easternmost part of Russia while it's sister island, Which is known as Little Diomede and part of the US and is about 2.4 miles away. The two island are separated by international border and the International Dateline.
That is correct.
I actually personally am aware of that-- I am a very curious person so I know a lot of information on varied topics.. (Of come some of it is entirely useless but sometimes some of it can be good to know).
No way in Hades do I think this may have been in any way accidental! Vicious Vlad is trying to send a clear message to Poland and other countries in the region as well as the US, and that is do not f#*k with Russia, and keep your hands out of Ukraine. It is nothing but sheer intimidation on Putin's part! He is absolutely certain Xi has his back.