Warsaw, September 10, 2025 – Tensions between Russia and NATO escalated sharply when Polish and allied jets shot down several Russian drones that entered Polish airspace overnight. Officials in Warsaw confirmed that it was the first time NATO forces have taken direct military action within the territory of a member state during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The incident occurred during one of Russia’s largest coordinated strikes on Ukraine this year, involving more than four hundred drones and dozens of missiles. While most were directed at Ukrainian cities, a number crossed the border into eastern Poland. Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s operating under NATO command intercepted the drones before they could cause damage on the ground.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the event as an unprecedented violation and said Poland was now closer to open conflict than at any point since the Second World War. In response, Warsaw invoked Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which allows any member to request urgent consultations if it believes its security is under threat.
Airports in Warsaw and Lublin suspended flights during the incident as a precaution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the Russian assault struck multiple regions in his country, causing casualties despite extensive defensive measures.
European leaders condemned the breach, calling Russia’s actions reckless and destabilizing for the entire continent. NATO officials have already begun discussions on strengthening air defenses along the alliance’s eastern border, with proposals for a dedicated “drone shield” gaining momentum.
The episode has raised serious questions about whether Russia’s war in Ukraine is moving closer to directly involving NATO, a scenario Western leaders have long sought to avoid.
