On 10 September 2025, Poland confirmed its military shot down multiple Russian drones violating its national airspace during a Russian air assault against Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the incident. He noted that an active operation was underway and that weaponry had been deployed against unidentified objects.
The violations struck over the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions, which border Ukraine. This marks the first confirmed military engagement in Polish airspace since 2022.
Poland scrambled its air defenses and coordinated with NATO allies to intercept the Russian drones as part of efforts to protect national sovereignty and civilian safety.
Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak Kamysz confirmed the engagement and noted ongoing communication with NATO command to ensure rapid alliance coordination.
Authorities ordered the temporary closure of four airports, including Warsaw Chopin and Rzeszów-Jasionka, citing unplanned military activity and public safety concerns.
Residents across affected regions were instructed to stay indoors while military forces monitored the situation and tracked remaining aerial threats within Polish skies.
United States lawmakers, including Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Joe Wilson, condemned the incursions as deliberate provocations and possible acts of war.
Recent weeks have already seen multiple incidents, including two drones briefly entering Poland on September 4 and debris discovered near Belarus on September 8.
Earlier in the Russia-Ukraine war, a stray Ukrainian missile struck a Polish village in 2022, killing two civilians and alarming officials from Poland and NATO.
International law explicitly prohibits unauthorized military aircraft or drones from entering sovereign airspace. The actions of Russia violated the sovereignty of Poland.
Poland retains the legal right to defend its skies, with actions justified under sovereignty principles outlined in the Chicago Convention and the United Nations Charter.
The incident shows growing risks for countries bordering Ukraine, where overshooting weapons, navigational errors, or deliberate intimidation raise significant dangers.