NATO has gone on high alert after Poland reported that at least eight Russian-made Shahed drones entered and were shot down over its airspace overnight. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as “an unprecedented act of aggression” and convened an emergency government meeting.
The Polish Air Force, supported by NATO allies, intercepted the drones, with Warsaw thanking Dutch forces for their assistance. Prosecutors confirmed drone debris was found in eastern Poland, including one that struck a residential building, though no casualties were reported.
Ukrainian officials said the drones were part of a wider assault involving more than 400 drones and 40 missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky called it “an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe,” stressing it was not an accident but a coordinated strike.
More information is coming in about the intrusion of Russian attack drones into Polish territory. As of now, it’s known about 8 drones. Increasing evidence indicates that this movement, this direction of strike, was no accident. There have been previous incidents of individual…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 10, 2025
Western leaders reacted sharply. U.S. lawmakers described the violations as a direct challenge to NATO. Senator Dick Durbin warned that Vladimir Putin was “testing our resolve,” while Congressman Joe Wilson labeled the strike a “war act” and urged strong sanctions.
Poland, which has been on heightened alert since 2022 after a stray missile killed two people, closed four airports including Warsaw Chopin. It also announced plans to seal its border with Belarus amid large-scale Russian-Belarusian military exercises near NATO territory.
The escalation raises fears that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill deeper into NATO territory, heightening the risk of a broader confrontation.
