Polish PM: Poland's airspace violated by huge number of Russian drones

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on social platform X on Wednesday that the Polish airspace was violated by a "huge number of Russian drones," and some posed a "direct threat."

The Polish military shot down drones over Poland after the airspace was repeatedly violated between Tuesday to Wednesday, according to a statement from Polish Armed Forces Operational Command.

According to the Polish Press Agency, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command has activated all necessary procedures. Polish and allied aircraft are operating in Polish airspace, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest level of readiness.

On Tuesday night, Poland temporarily closed four airports, including its largest Chopin Airport in Warsaw, due to "unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security," according to notices posted on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's website.

The closure of key Polish airports came after Warsaw claimed that "drone-type objects" had violated its airspace from neighboring Ukraine.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday that the country's air force has used weapons against hostile objects that have entered Polish airspace.

International reactions

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has called for a meeting of the National Security Council within 48 hours to review the incident what he described as an "unprecedented" incident in both NATO's and Poland's history.

The North Atlantic Council is meeting on Wednesday morning for a regular session and will discuss how NATO responded to the drones that entered Poland overnight, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said.

A NATO spokesperson added that it was the first time its planes had engaged potential threats in Allied airspace.

Italy firmly condemns the violations of Polish airspace by Russian drones, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday. "The event is very serious and unacceptable, it is an offence to the internal security of the entire Euro-atlantic area," Tajani wrote on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that the attack was "simply unacceptable," adding that he would soon speak to NATO chief Mark Rutte.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that at least eight Russian drones were aimed towards Poland during Russian attacks overnight.

However, a Russian diplomat said on Wednesday that Poland had not given any evidence that the drones shot down in Poland were of Russian origin, Russia's RIA state news agency reported. 

(With input from agencies)