UN Security Council Holds A Meeting On Drones In Poland Today

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss drone attacks on its airspace described by the President of Poland as Russia's attempt to test the responses of Warsaw and NATO.

Poland was backed by NATO allies in shooting the drone crash - the first time members of the military alliance have been known to have opened fire during the Russian war in Ukraine - and Germany said on Thursday it would strengthen its commitment to NATO's eastern border in response to the attack.

"The Russian provocation, as our generals and soldiers realize, is nothing more than an attempt to test our capabilities, our ability to respond," Polish President Karol Nawrocki told the army on Thursday.

Polish F-16 fighter jets, the Dutch F-35, Italian AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, and NATO air refueling aircraft were deployed in an operation to shoot down a drone in Polish airspace from Tuesday to Wednesday night, officials said.

The wreckage of 16 drones has so far been found, Defense Minister Wldyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told parliament on Thursday.

He said Poland's logistical support for Ukraine may be a motivation for the attack, most of which aid for Ukraine transits through Poland.

"This is an attempt to weaken NATO and Poland's willingness to support Ukraine," he said.

A senior NATO commander said it was not yet known whether the drone attack was intentional.

However, the incident has raised questions about NATO's readiness to confront drone attacks, spark tensions with Russia, and encourage some Western leaders to seek new sanctions against Moscow and question its commitment to peace efforts in Ukraine.

Members of the UN Security Council, Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, France, and Britain, asked 15 members of the Security Council to meet in connection with the incident.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he had activated Article 4 of the NATO agreement, allowing alliance members to seek consultation with their allies.

US President Donald Trump spoke with President Nawrocki on Wednesday, and leaders declared unity. However, Washington only commented a little about the drone attack.

European leaders, who want President Trump to join them in tightening sanctions against Russia and increasing support for Kyiv, said airspace violations justify collective responses.

Germany said it would intensify support for Ukraine and cooperate within the European Union to immediately impose further sanctions on Russia following the drone strike.

"In addition to the commitments in the Baltic and Polish regions, the government will expand and expand air surveillance in Poland," said a spokesman for the German government.

The Netherlands delivered 300 troops and accelerated deployment of two of the three Patriot air defense batteries promised to Poland, while the Czech Republic could deliver three helicopters and 100 troops, Polish Defense Minister said.

Poland banned drone flights along its eastern border with Belarus and Ukraine, and restricted small air traffic there, after shooting down what it called a Russian drone that violated its airspace on Wednesday.

Poland's air traffic restrictions along the border with Ukraine and Belarus will take effect until December 9, Polish air traffic authorities said.

Under these restrictions, public flights - especially small planes and recreation as well as helicopters - will be restricted, while unmanned civilian aircraft, such as drones, are prohibited.

Commercial passenger flights in the region were not affected, but drone attacks have re-emerged safety concerns regarding the vulnerability of civilian air transport in Europe.

On the other hand, Russia said it did not intend to strike any targets in Poland, and would not provide further comment on the incident.

Neither Poland nor NATO have provided a complete explanation of their suspicions of what the drones are doing.

NATO is also facing questions about whether foreign drones should be allowed into its airspace and how well its arsenal is to deal with such threats.