Poland presses NATO for response to Russian drone breach
Poland has formally requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty following a night-time incursion by 19 Russian drones into its airspace, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told lawmakers on Wednesday.
The drones, part of a wider Russian strike campaign against Ukraine, entered Polish airspace from the east, with several reportedly crossing directly from Belarus. According to Tusk, three or four of the drones were shot down by Polish and allied aircraft.
In a statement to the Sejm, Tusk said, “Consultations with allies have now taken the form of a formal request to trigger Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.”
The treaty’s Article 4 provides for consultations among NATO members when “the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.”
Tusk emphasized that while the interception of the drones was a tactical success, the event represents a political escalation. “This changes the political situation,” he said. “We will be expecting much greater support in defending Polish airspace.”
The incident came amid a broad Russian drone attack against Ukraine overnight. Polish authorities reported that drones penetrated airspace in multiple regions, including Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lubelskie voivodeships. In one case, a drone struck a residential building in the village of Wyryki, near Włodawa, causing structural damage but no casualties. Local officials canceled school classes, and psychological support was provided to residents.
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Miranda of the 25th Infantry Division said Polish and NATO aircraft were active throughout the night.
According to a post from the Polish Ministry of Defense on X (formerly Twitter), airspace violations were described as “unprecedented” in scale and called “an act of aggression that created a real threat to the safety of our citizens.”
Polish Air Force and allied aircraft concluded operations shortly after 7 a.m., according to the country’s Operational Command. Defensive procedures had been launched earlier in the night.
Speaking on the situation, President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Tusk issued a joint message of unity. “We are determined to act as one fist,” Tusk said, referencing the cross-party commitment to national defense.
Retired U.S. Army General Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. forces in Europe, told Reuters that the event appeared to be a deliberate probe of NATO defenses. “The number of drones that crossed NATO airspace last night clearly shows this is a conscious test of NATO and its air defense and early warning systems,” Hodges said. He warned that NATO “must be ready to respond effectively every time” and urged the alliance to do more.
As of now, NATO has not issued a public response, but the invocation of Article 4 raises the potential for broader allied engagement. While Article 4 does not automatically trigger a military response, it often precedes coordinated actions or deployments. Previous invocations of Article 4 have included consultations during the Syrian conflict and heightened tensions in the Baltic region.
The Polish government described the drone incursion as a “real threat” and reaffirmed its commitment to defending national sovereignty and fulfilling its NATO obligations. According to Polish officials, lessons learned from the incident will inform future defense coordination and airspace monitoring across the eastern flank of the alliance.
In Warsaw, preparations are already underway for follow-on negotiations with NATO partners.
“This is only the beginning,” Tusk said, adding that the request under Article 4 is the first step toward ensuring Poland is better supported against evolving threats.
