The Polish Armed Forces said its airspace was “repeatedly violated’ by drone-like objects during a Russian attack on Ukraine, adding that a military operation was underway to neutralize the objects.
“Attention, during today’s attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on targets located in the territory of Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly violated by drone-type objects,” the Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces said in a statement early Wednesday local time, according to a translation.
“An operation is underway aimed at identifying and neutralizing the objects,” the statement continued. “On the orders of the Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, weapons have been deployed, and services are actively working to locate the downed objects.”
The statement urged the public to stay home as the military operation continued.
“We emphasize that the military operation is ongoing, and we urge people to stay at home. The most threatened areas are the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lubelskie voivodeships. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and the forces and resources under its command remain fully prepared for immediate response.”
An earlier statement said the Polish Armed Forces had activated “all necessary procedures” as the “massive attack” on Ukraine was underway.
“Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness,” the earlier statement read, noting that “These actions are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened region.”
Multiple airports in Poland, including the largest one in Warsaw, were temporarily shut down amid reports of Russian drones in Polish airspace, according to local reports.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed in a social media post that “an operation is underway related to multiple violations of Polish airspace.”
“The military used armaments against the objects. I am in constant contact with the President and the Minister of Defense. I received a direct report from the operational commander,” Tusk added in his statement.
The development sparked concern about the potential for Russian encroachment on NATO territory.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who sits on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, called the drone activity “an act of war” and urged President Trump to respond with sanctions.
“Russia is attacking NATO ally Poland with Iranian shared drones less than a week after President Trump hosted President Nawrocki at the White House,” he wrote on the social platform X. “This is an act of war, and we are grateful to NATO allies for their swift response to war criminal Putin’s continued unprovoked aggression against free and productive nations.”
“I urge President Trump to respond with mandatory sanctions that will bankrupt the Russian war machine and arm Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russia,” he added.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the incident “cannot be ignored.”
“Repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones are a fair warning that Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations. After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored,” he wrote on X.
