Russia said Wednesday that its overnight strike on Ukraine did not target Polish territory after several Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace and were shot down by NATO forces.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said 19 drones entered Polish airspace overnight, many of them from Belarus.

Polish authorities said Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, Italian airborne early warning and control (AWACS) reconnaissance planes, and NATO-operated refueling aircraft took part in intercepting the drones.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the attack struck Ukrainian defense industries in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi and Zhytomyr regions, as well as the cities of Vinnytsia and Lviv.

“The objectives of the strike have been achieved. All designated targets were hit,” its Wednesday statement says.

“No targets on Polish territory were planned,” the Russian ministry added. “The maximum range of the Russian drones allegedly crossing into Poland does not exceed 700 kilometers [435 miles].”

According to AP News, one of the drones that traveled farthest inland was found in Mniszków, a village southeast of Łódź, about 260 kilometers (161 miles) from the Belarusian border – within the range stated by Moscow.

While the specific drones that entered Poland remain unconfirmed, Moscow’s preferred Shahed/Geran drones used against Ukraine can reach up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), lending further doubts to the claim.

It is also unclear how Moscow obtained knowledge of the alleged drone model that entered Poland.

“Nevertheless, we are ready to hold consultations with the Polish Ministry of Defense on this matter,” the Russian ministry added.

In a separate statement, Moscow’s charge d’affaires in Poland, Andrei Ordash, called allegations that Russian drones entered Polish airspace “groundless.”

“We see the accusations as groundless. No evidence that these drones are of Russian origin has been presented.”

Russian state media also carried reports questioning Poland’s claims. The Kremlin has not commented on the incident.

Poland’s Rzeczpospolita reported that 23 drones had crossed into Polish airspace. The outlet stressed that, given the scale of the violation, it is difficult to consider the incident accidental and that it was most likely a deliberate Russian operation aimed at testing Poland’s response.

Poland confirmed scrambling jets with NATO allies and using weapons against “hostile objects.”

Four airports, including Rzeszów and Warsaw, were temporarily closed, with several regions put at risk.

A Ukrainian-linked monitoring channel reported that more than 10 drones entered Poland and did not return – an unprecedented event. Tusk called it a “large-scale provocation” by Russia.

Local media said one drone struck a house near the Belarus border, damaging a roof but causing no injuries.

Tusk confirmed that Poland has formally requested the activation of Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which calls for consultations among allies regarding security issues.

“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,” he said.

Tusk added that Poland requires more than symbolic backing from partners: “Poland needs more than expressions of solidarity and more support from allies.”

NATO’s Article 4 stipulates that member states will consult whenever they believe their territory, political independence, or security is under threat. Such consultations at the North Atlantic Council could lead to a joint decision or coordinated action.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed for an integrated air defense system with Kyiv’s European allies, accusing Russia of “deliberately targeting” Poland.

He described the breach as a “dangerous precedent” for Europe and said it was “no accident.”

“Ukraine has long proposed to its partners the creation of a joint air defense system to ensure the guaranteed downing of Shaheds, other drones, and missiles through the combined strength of our combat aviation and air defenses,” Zelensky wrote on social media.