Poland Shoots Crashed A Nirawak Plane In Its Airspace During A Russian Attack On Ukraine

Poland shot down a drone that entered its airspace during an widespread Russian attack on western Ukraine on Wednesday.

The member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) called the attack an "action of aggression" and marked the alliance's first time member opened fire in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Poland's airspace was breached by a large number of Russian unmanned aircraft, and a drone that poses a direct threat of being shot down, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Poland is ready to react to any attacks or provocations, the Polish prime minister said after the country shot down a Russian drone entering its airspace in a massive Russian attack on western Ukraine.

"We are facing a large-scale provocation. We are ready to ward off such provocations. The situation is serious, and no one doubts that we must prepare for various scenarios," said PM Tusk.

Polish military command said drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace during Russia's attack on the border in western Ukraine, but operations against this breach have now been completed.

Radar tracks more than 10 objects and objects that could pose a threat have been "contactic," the command said.

"The search and effort to find potential locations for the fall of these objects is ongoing," the statement issued. The command thanked NATO air command and Dutch air force F-35 fighter aircraft for their assistance.

The command appealed to the public to stay at home, calling the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin areas the most risky areas.

"This is an act of aggression which is a real threat to the safety of our citizens," he said.

Meanwhile, an alliance spokesman said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had communicated with Polish leadership and the alliance was in close consultation with Poland.

Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

NATO has yet to comment on the incident.

Since the war began in 2022, there have been several incidents of Russian drones entering the airspace of countries bordering Ukraine, including Poland and Romania, but so far they have avoided firing.

Poland has increased awareness of objects entering its airspace since Ukraine's missile targeting a village in southern Poland in 2022, killing two people, months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.