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Poland says it has shot down Russian drones after airspace violated Poland says it shot down Russian drones after airspace violation
(about 5 hours later)
Poland shot down Russian drones over its airpsace early on Wednesday, the Polish armed forces said, marking the first time Warsaw has engaged Russian assets since the Ukraine war began. Polish military's Gen Wieslaw Kukula attends an emergency meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said the country's "airspace was repeatedly violated by drones", adding "weapons have been used, and operations are underway to locate the downed targets". Poland shot down Russian drones over its airspace early on Wednesday, the Polish armed forces said, marking the first time Poland directly engaged Russian assets since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Nato and Polish jets were scrambled as Russia launched a drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine close to the Polish border. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Polish airspace was "violated by a huge number of drones" during Russian strikes on Ukraine, which the Polish military called "unprecedented" and an "act of aggression".
Four airports in Poland, including the Chopin Airport in Warsaw, were closed due to "military activity", according to the US Federal Aviation Administration's website. The drones flew deep enough into Poland to close four airports - including Warsaw's main hub Chopin. Nato also deployed fighter jets in response.
In addition to Chopin Airport, the other three closed airports were the Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport, the Warsaw Modlin Airport, and the Lublin airport, the FAA notices showed. Russia has yet to comment. Ukraine's foreign minister said the incident showed "Putin continues to escalate, expands the war".
The president and prime minister of Poland have been notified as an operation to neutralise objects that have violated Polish airspace is underway, Polish defence minister Cezary Tomczyk said on X. The operation marks the first time Russian drones have been shot down over the territory of a Nato country, Tusk said. No casualties have been recorded, he added.
"All the services are active," he said. The prime minister convened an emergency meeting at 08:00 local time (06:00 BST), adding that Nato's secretary-general was being kept informed.
Earlier, Poland's military said jets had been scrambled in response to the attacks near its border. Separately, Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he will chair a National Security briefing with key officials including Tusk.
"Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness," the operational command of the Polish armed forces said in a post on X. "The security of our homeland is our highest priority and requires close cooperation," the president said.
The latest attack comes days after Russia launched its biggest air assault of the war on Kyiv so far, hitting the main government building in the capital, in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was a "ruthless" attack aimed at prolonging the war. Overnight, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said the drones were tracked by radar by both Polish and Nato aircraft stationed in the country.
The military said: "As a result of the attack by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory, there was an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects.
"Some of the drones that entered our airspace were shot down. Searches and efforts to locate the potential crash sites of these objects are ongoing."
Although Poland's military operation has ended, it had urged people to stay at home, naming Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions as most at risk.
"With the safety of citizens in mind, we urge that in the event of observing an unknown object or its debris, do not approach, touch, or move it," the military wrote on X.
"Such elements may pose a threat and contain hazardous materials. They must be thoroughly inspected by the appropriate services."
The Polish military also thanked Nato's Air Command and the Netherlands for deploying F35 fighter jets.
For hours flight operations were suspended at Warsaw's Chopin and Modlin airports, as well as at Rzeszów–Jasionka and Lublin.
After airspace over the the capital was re-opened, Warsaw's Chopin airport said disruptions and delays may last throughout the day and warned passengers to expect delays.
Poland is a member state of Nato - which ties the US and many European nations together on collective defence.
Nato's operation in Poland is led by the US military and Polish PM Tusk has said he is in "constant contact" with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The latest attack comes days after Russia launched its biggest air assault of the war so far, hitting the main government building in Kyiv, in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was a "ruthless" attack aimed at prolonging the war.
Writing on Telegram, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Putin is "testing the West".
"The longer he faces no strength in response, the more aggressive he gets.
"A weak response now will provoke Russia even more -- and then Russian missiles and drones will fly even further into Europe."