At least three Russian drones were shot down by Polish and other NATO aircraft in Poland's airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine, the Polish prime minister has said.
Donald Tusk told MPs Poland had recorded 19 drone incursions, with some flying deep enough to temporarily close four airports, including Warsaw's main hub Chopin.
This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two, he said. This is the first time Russian drones have been downed over the territory of a NATO member since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia's defence ministry said there had been no plans to target facilities on the territory of Poland.
The maximum range of the Russian drones that allegedly crossed into Poland does not exceed 700km (435 miles), the ministry said in a statement, adding they were open to consultations with Polish defense officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that this attack was an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe, while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to escalate, expands the war.
Tusk emphasized that the drones, which had posed a security threat, were shot down, changing the political landscape. I have no reason to claim we're on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it's incomparably more dangerous than before, he noted.
Shortly taking urgent action, Poland’s government has invoked article 4 of the NATO treaty, which requires urgent consultations among member states due to perceived threats.
The incident disrupted flight operations at major Polish airports for hours, reflecting the implications of the aerial incursions on civilian air traffic and national security.
Donald Tusk told MPs Poland had recorded 19 drone incursions, with some flying deep enough to temporarily close four airports, including Warsaw's main hub Chopin.
This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two, he said. This is the first time Russian drones have been downed over the territory of a NATO member since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia's defence ministry said there had been no plans to target facilities on the territory of Poland.
The maximum range of the Russian drones that allegedly crossed into Poland does not exceed 700km (435 miles), the ministry said in a statement, adding they were open to consultations with Polish defense officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that this attack was an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe, while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to escalate, expands the war.
Tusk emphasized that the drones, which had posed a security threat, were shot down, changing the political landscape. I have no reason to claim we're on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it's incomparably more dangerous than before, he noted.
Shortly taking urgent action, Poland’s government has invoked article 4 of the NATO treaty, which requires urgent consultations among member states due to perceived threats.
The incident disrupted flight operations at major Polish airports for hours, reflecting the implications of the aerial incursions on civilian air traffic and national security.
