LONDON – Warsaw has blasted Vladimir Putin’s ‘act of aggression’ amid fears he is testing the West’s defences and escalating the war in Ukraine, as Poland was forced to shoot down drones in Russia’s largest escalation of the war yet.
More than eight million Poles were ordered to hide in their homes as the drones flew overhead, with debris from one shot-down device crashing into a house. Kyiv raised concerns about Russia’s motives after Poland scrambled aircraft alongside allies to shoot down ‘hostile objects’ violating its airspace.
“Russian drones flying into Poland during the massive attack on Ukraine show that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s sense of impunity keeps growing because he was not properly punished for his previous crimes,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X.
“Putin just keeps escalating, expanding his war and testing the West,” Sybiga said. “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,” he added.
Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has condemned the violation of the country’s airspace and says it was likely a large-scale provocation. He also warned that it tests ‘NATO’s response threshold’.
Tusk is now holding an extraordinary meeting with top officials after Russia’s actions. Senior army officials are present at the gathering. He said a number of drones that posed direct threats to Russia were shot down in a joint effort with NATO allies and warned that Poland is ready to react. The prime minister added that he was in communication with allies.
Reports indicated around 10 Shahed-2 drone incursions into Polish airspace, with at least four shot down. NATO patriot defence systems detected the drones with their radars. Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35 and Italian surveillance aircraft alongside NATO’s MRTT mid-air refuelling aircraft were all involved in the operation, according to the organisation.
Observers have indicated that with this, Putin may be laying the groundwork for a future invasion of Poland or other NATO nations. Since last week, Russia has been preparing to hold its huge military drills, which take place every four years.
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