Tensions are mounting between NATO member Poland and Russia following allegations of another airspace violation by the latter. Poland’s military is currently searching for a potential downed Russian drone within its sovereign borders after detecting a “likely” airspace violation during Monday’s major Russian air assault on Ukraine.
The attack targeted 15 out of 24 Ukrainian oblasts and predominantly damaged energy and electrical infrastructure. The assault included cruise missiles, drones, and Kinzhal hypersonics, making it one of the most significant nationwide aerial attacks of the war to date. Major General Maciej Klisz of Poland’s Armed Forces stated that they are “probably dealing with the entry of an object on Polish territory,” which was confirmed by at least three radar stations and is believed to be a drone.
The Polish military has described an ongoing search for an unidentified flying object approximately 30 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, stating that they were ready to neutralize the object if necessary. According to Gen. Klisz, the object disappeared from radar around 25 kilometers deep into Polish territory early in the morning.
Since the beginning of the war in neighboring Ukraine, there have been several reported incidents of alleged Polish airspace violations by Russian forces. In November 2022, an errant Ukrainian air-defense missile landed in the Polish village of Przewodow, killing two Polish citizens. Additionally, a Russian cruise missile spent several minutes inside Polish airspace before reentering Ukraine in December 2023.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Poland is now committed to shooting down Russian missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory if the incoming projectiles are deemed a threat to Poland’s defense. However, Polish leadership has not explicitly endorsed these statements, only noting that such a defensive posture is under review and discussion.
Thus far, NATO member states have refrained from directly firing on Russian forces or assets operating inside Ukraine due to concerns that this could escalate the conflict into a nuclear-armed war between Moscow and NATO.
