NATO fighter jets were urgently scrambled after Russian drones breached Polish airspace during a large-scale assault on western Ukraine, the Polish armed forces have confirmed. The incident marks a significant escalation and a direct challenge to the NATO alliance's borders.
The violation occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning near the Polish city of Zamosc. According to a statement from the Polish military's Operational Command, the incursion was linked to a "massive attack" launched by Russian forces against the Lviv region of Ukraine.
Swift NATO Response to Border Breach
All necessary security procedures were immediately activated to deal with the threat. Allied aircraft on duty, part of NATO's enhanced air policing mission, were directed to intercept the unidentified objects entering Polish skies.
Polish and allied radar systems tracked the objects throughout the incident. The military confirmed that the Russian-made drones entered from the direction of the Ukraine border and remained in Polish airspace for a short period before returning to Ukrainian territory.
Ongoing Tensions and Previous Incidents
This is not the first time the war in Ukraine has spilled over into a NATO member state. In November 2022, a stray Ukrainian air defence missile landed in Poland, killing two people in the village of Przewodow. The latest incident, however, involves a direct and deliberate breach by Russian aircraft.
The Polish army has been on high alert, bolstering its air defences along the eastern flank since the full-scale invasion began. This breach is likely to intensify discussions within NATO about further strengthening the alliance's eastern borders against the ongoing threat from Russia.
