Poland, a member state of NATO and the European Union, was hit by a Russian drone intrusion into its airspace on Wednesday night, marking the first time in the country's modern history that the Polish Air Force has used weapons in Polish airspace.

Former Minister Wlachovský: I congratulate the Poles for shooting down Russian drones, we must be prepared for provocations

Polish and allied fighter jets shot down drones posing an imminent threat, the Gazeta Wyborcza daily reported, recalling that the Russian-Belarusian military exercise Zapad 2025 continues in neighboring Belarus. Poland has closed its border with Belarus and Russia in connection with the maneuvers."We will open the borders when it is safe," Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said on Monday evening.

Russia and Belarus Strategic Exercise Zapad 2025

Minister of Regional Policy Katarzyna Pelczyńská-Nelenczová estimated on TVN 24 that tonight's incident was not a drone that arrived from abroad, but rather a drone launched by Belarusian citizens on site.

She called for restraint in statements until the case becomes clearer. At the same time, according to television, she admitted that provocations such as the Russian drones entering Polish airspace would be repeated at first."We must prepare militarily for these situations," she said.