Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in First-Ever Airspace Defence, NATO Pledges Support

Poland scrambled its air defences after Russian drones violated its airspace during an attack on western Ukraine, marking the first time Warsaw engaged its systems inside its own territory since the war began. Polish and NATO assets intercepted multiple drones, prompting warnings for residents in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie and Lublin to remain indoors. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed Polish aircraft fired at hostile objects, while President Andrzej Duda called a National Security Council meeting. The incident, amid Russian-Belarusian drills, has raised NATO’s security concerns, with allies reaffirming their commitment to defend Poland. Several airports, including Warsaw Chopin, were temporarily closed.