Poland calls NATO meeting after downing Russian drones

• Russia launched a barrage of strikes across Ukraine, including in the country's west

• Russia says it did not plan to attack targets in Poland

• Poland said its airspace was breached at least 19 times, and invoked NATO's Article 4 for consultations

• Polish PM Donald Tusk called the intrusions Russian 'provocation'

• EU leaders strongly condemned the violations

Read below for the latest on the unfolding situation in Poland, as well as the latest news on Russia's war on Ukraine on Wednesday, September 10.

Russia denies it planned to hit any targets in Poland

Russia's Defense Ministry said its targeted military facilities in western Ukraine, but did not plan to hit any targets in Poland.

The ministry claimed that its forces had accomplished all their objectives in the attack. It also noted that the Russian drones "which allegedly crossed the border with Poland" had an operational range of no more than 700 km (434 miles).

"Nevertheless, we are prepared to hold consultations with the Polish Defense Ministry on this topic," the Russian military said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 415 strike and decoy drones, 42 cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile overnight.

According to the report, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or jammed 386 drones and 27 cruise missiles.

Germany backs Poland’s Article 4 move after drone incident

Germany has said it supports Poland in invoking Article 4 of NATO's treaty after Russian drones violated Polish airspace.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Bundestag the drones were "clearly armed" and stressed the seriousness of the incident.

Meanwhile, German government spokesman Sebastian Hille said Moscow was "testing" Ukraine’s allies.

The violation "once again shows the threat that we face and how much Germany and other NATO countries are being tested by Russia," he told reporters.

NATO condemns Russian drones in Poland as 'reckless'

NATO chief Mark Rutte has denounced Russia's "reckless behaviour" after drones violated Polish airspace, and said the alliance’s response "very successful."

"A full assessment is ongoing. But of course, whether it was intentional or not, it is absolutely reckless, it is absolutely dangerous," Rutte said after talks among NATO members.

He said his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was clear: "Stop violating allied airspace, and know that we stand ready, that we are vigilant, and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory."

Watch: Poland invoked NATO's Article 4. What does it mean?

Kremlin stays silent on Polish downing of Russian drones

The Kremlin has refused to comment on Poland's claim that it had shot down Russian drones in its airspace with NATO support, saying the matter lay with the defense ministry.

Asked about the remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "In this case, we would not like to comment on it in any way. This is not our responsibility — it is the prerogative of the Defense Ministry."

Peskov added that Moscow had not received any request for contact from Warsaw and dismissed EU and NATO accusations of Russian provocation. "The leadership of the EU and NATO accuse Russia of provocations on a daily basis. Most of the time, without even trying to present at least some kind of argument," he said.

Russia's Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the drone incident.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the incident a large-scale provocation and "the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two," though he stressed he had "no reason to believe we're on the brink of war."

Russian envoy disputes source of drones downed in Poland

Russia's top diplomat in Warsaw says the drones shot down overnight in Polish airspace had come from the direction of Ukraine, state news agency RIA reported.

"We know one thing – these drones were flying from the direction of Ukraine," charge d'affaires Andrei Ordash was quoted as saying after being summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry.

Poland has said a large number of Russian drones violated its airspace and that those posing a direct threat were destroyed. According to Poland, the drones were Russian and most of them flew in from Moscow-ally Belarus.

Orban backs Poland after drone incursions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban voiced solidarity with Poland on Wednesday after drones entered its airspace, calling the breach of territorial integrity unacceptable.

"The incident proves that our policy of calling for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war is reasonable and rational," Orban said on X. "Living in the shadow of a war is fraught with risks and dangers. It’s time to make it stop!"

Tusk: Poland recorded at least 19 airspace violations

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says there were at least 19 violations of Polish airspace by suspected Russian drones overnight.

He told the Polish parliament that NATO's Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) had been put on alert after reports of a large Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine late Tuesday. The first airspace breach occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time (2130 GMT/UTC) and continued until about 6:30 a.m.

Tusk confirmed three drones were shot down and said a fourth may also have been hit. He stressed the incident was unprecedented: "This is the first time in this war that they did not come from Ukraine due to errors or minor Russian provocations. For the first time, a significant portion of the drones came directly from Belarus."

Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, has supported Russia's war against Ukraine and has stepped up its military posturing against NATO.

Dutch F-35s help Poland shoot down Russian drones

Acting Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Wednesday that the Netherlands' air force supported Poland in downing Russian drones that violated its airspace overnight.

"It is good that Dutch F-35 fighter jets were able to provide support," Schoof wrote on X. "The Netherlands stands shoulder to shoulder with our NATO ally Poland."

He called the intrusion "further evidence that Russia's aggressive war poses a threat to European security," adding he had spoken with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The Dutch defense ministry had announced earlier this year that F-35 jets would be stationed in Poland from September 1 for a three-month air patrol mission.

Poland summons Russian envoy over drone violations

Poland has summoned Russia's top diplomat in Warsaw after saying it had downed several Russian drones that crossed into its airspace overnight.

Andrei Ordash, Moscow's charge d'affaires, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti he had been called to the Polish Foreign Ministry for a noon meeting. He said Warsaw had not yet presented evidence that the drones came from Russia.

Zelenskyy urges joint air defense after drones fly into Poland

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a common air defense system with European allies, accusing Russia of "deliberately targeting" Poland by sending drones through its airspace overnight.

"Ukraine has long proposed to its partners the creation of a joint air defence system to ensure the guaranteed downing of 'Shaheds,' other drones, and missiles through the combined strength of our combat aviation and air defences," Zelenskyy said on social media.

Poland calls NATO Article 4 talks after drone intrusions

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says there were 19 intrusions into Polish airspace overnight, many of them drones entering from Belarus.

"The fact that these drones, which posed a security threat, were shot down changes the political situation. Therefore, allied consultations took the form of a formal request to activate Article 4 of the NATO Treaty," Tusk said.

He told parliament that three drones were confirmed shot down and a fourth likely destroyed.

Article 4 of the NATO treaty covers the case when a member state feels threatened by another country or a terrorist organization. The member states then start formal consultations at the request of the threatened member.

The talks look at whether a threat exists and how to counter it, with decisions arrived at unanimously. Article 4 does not, however, mean that there will be direct pressure to act.

Belarus says it downed stray drones during Russia-Ukraine strikes

Russia's ally Belarus said its air defense forces shot down several drones that strayed into its airspace overnight amid strikes between Russia and Ukraine.

Chief of the General Staff Pavel Muraveiko said the drones lost their course due to electronic jamming during the exchange.

"Some of the lost drones were destroyed by our country's Air Defense Forces over the territory of the republic," he said in a statement issued in English.

Muraveiko did not specify whether the drones originated from Russia or Ukraine. He added that Poland and Lithuania were notified of the drones' approach.

Macron calls Russian drone incursion into Poland 'unacceptable'

French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the entry of Russian drones into Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, calling it "simply unacceptable."

"We will not compromise on the safety of our allies," Macron wrote on X Wednesday.

"I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. I call on Russia to put an end to this headlong rush. I reiterate to the Polish people and its government our full solidarity," he said.

"I will soon meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. We will not compromise on the security of the Allies."

Von der Leyen pledges solidarity with Poland, new support for Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the EU stands "in full solidarity with Poland" after Russian drones violated its airspace overnight.

"Just today, we have seen a reckless and unprecedented violation of Poland and Europe's airspace by more than 10 Russian Shahid drones," Von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.

In her state of the union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she announced a summit to coordinate international efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. "Every abducted child must be returned," she said.

Von der Leyen also outlined new initiatives, including a "Qualitative Military Edge" program to boost investment in Ukraine's defense industry and an "Eastern Flank Watch" program to enhance real-time surveillance for EU countries bordering Russia.

Von der Leyen said Russia must pay reparations for its invasion but stressed the EU will not seize frozen Russian assets. Instead, she said Ukraine will repay EU loans only after Moscow covers reparations.

- DW

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