The Ukraine war is starting to cross borders. This morning, Russian drones entered the airspace of Poland, which has shot down some of them and accused Russia of carrying out an "unprecedented aggression" against its territory. Polish and allied forces monitored "more than ten objects on radar, and the operational commander of the armed forces decided to neutralize them."
"As a consequence of today's attack by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory, there has been an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by objects similar to drones. This is an act of aggression that has posed a real threat to the security of our citizens," stated the Operational Command of the Armed Forces.
"Moscow always pushes the limits of what is possible, and if it does not encounter a strong reaction, it remains at the new level of escalation. Today is a new level of escalation: Russian-Iranian Shahed drones operating in Polish airspace, in NATO airspace," denounced Zelenski after the incident. "It was not just one Shahed. At least eight attack drones were heading towards Poland," added the Ukrainian president.
Russian drones and missiles have also attacked Ukraine, hitting several regions in the central and western parts of the country. Russia launched 458 drones and missiles against Ukraine overnight
Poland to Invoke Article 4 of NATO
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced, after the violation of airspace by Russian drones, that he will invoke Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which states that allies "will consult when, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the parties is threatened," reports Efe.
Belarus Claims to Have Shot Down Some Drones that Strayed During the Exchange of Attacks Between Russia and Ukraine
Belarus reported on Wednesday that it had shot down some drones that had strayed due to electronic interference during an exchange of attacks between Russia and Ukraine, and that Minsk had informed Poland and Lithuania of the approaching drones, reports Reuters.
The statement from the Chief of the General Staff of Belarus, General Pavel Muraveiko, did not specify to whom the drones that strayed belonged.
"During the overnight exchange of attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the Air Defense Forces and personnel of the Republic of Belarus on duty continuously tracked the unmanned aerial vehicles that had strayed as a result of the impact of the electronic warfare means of both parties," Muraveiko stated in a statement issued in English.
Von der Leyen Announces 6 Billion Euros for Drone Alliance with Ukraine
The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Wednesday an allocation of 6 billion euros to create a "drone alliance" with Ukraine, reports Efe.
"I can announce that Europe will allocate 6 billion euros from the ERA loan (mechanism funded with the extraordinary profits generated by the assets frozen by the sanctions) and will sign a drone alliance with Ukraine," Von der Leyen stated during the State of the Union debate.
Government Sees "Escalation" in Russian Drones Entering Poland and Advocates "Not Rushing" in Response
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, described the entry of Russian drones into Polish airspace as a "flagrant violation" and framed it within the "escalation" that Russia seems to have initiated, while advocating for "not rushing" in the response and for coordination within the EU and NATO, reports Efe.
"It is evident that we are witnessing an escalation that has already had a precedent with attacks that we had not seen until now in recent days against Ukraine," the minister stated in remarks in the corridors of the Congress, referring to the attack suffered over the weekend by the Ukrainian government building in Kiev.
German Patriot Systems in Poland Participated in Detecting Russian Drones
Two German Patriot air defense systems deployed in Poland participated in detecting Russian drones over Polish territory during the night, according to a security source informed Reuters on Wednesday.
Von der Leyen States Will Propose Program to Support Ukrainian Military Capabilities
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, declared on Wednesday in her State of the Union speech that the commission will propose a new program for Qualitative Military Advantage to support investment in Ukrainian military capabilities, reports Reuters.
She also assured that the European Union will continue to mobilize frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, without touching the assets themselves, announced the President of the European Commission on Wednesday. "We urgently need to work on a new solution to finance Ukraine's war effort with the frozen Russian assets. Thanks to the cash balances associated with these Russian assets, we can provide Ukraine with a repair loan," but "we will not touch the assets themselves," explained the head of the EU executive during a speech to MEPs in Strasbourg.
Sweden, Norway, and Latvia Find Russian Violation of Polish Airspace Unacceptable
The governments of Sweden, Norway, and Latvia considered the Russian violation of Polish airspace on Wednesday unacceptable and expressed their support for Poland, emphasizing that allies "must work together," reports Efe.
"The violations of Polish airspace by Russia tonight are unacceptable. The Russian aggression war against Ukraine poses a threat to the security of all of Europe," said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. In his opinion, Poland "has every right to defend its airspace."
In the same vein, Latvian President Edgars Rinkvis expressed the "total support and solidarity" of his country.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide added on the same platform that the Russian violation of Polish airspace is "deeply concerning."
Zelenski: "Russia Deliberately Launched at Least 8 Drones Against Poland"
Russia deliberately launched at least 8 Shahed kamikaze drones against Polish territory, as denounced on Wednesday on his social media by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski, who said that this Russian attack that forced Poland to use its air defenses for the first time in this war was not an "accident" and represents a "new level of escalation" by the Kremlin, reports Efe.
"Moscow always pushes the limits of what is possible, and if it does not encounter a strong reaction, it remains at the new level of escalation. Today is a new level of escalation: Russian-Iranian Shahed drones operating in Polish airspace, in NATO airspace," wrote Zelenski.
In total, Russia used more than 40 ballistic and cruise missiles and 415 drones in this attack against Ukraine that extended to Poland, according to the Ukrainian president.
NATO F-35 Fighters Intervened in Poland During Russian Drones' Entry into Its Airspace
NATO allies' F-35 fighters, especially from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, helped Poland during the early hours to ensure the security of Polish airspace during the violation by Russian drones in an attack by Moscow against Ukraine, reports Efe.
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces indicated in a message that it received support from the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) during the operation, as well as from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, to whom they expressed their gratitude.
This is not the first time that allied F-35s have had to support Poland in defending its airspace since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, and the Polish Operational Command regularly sends aircraft into Polish airspace during a Russian attack on the western part of the neighboring country.
Drone Components Found Near a Cemetery in Southeast Poland
Drone components were found near a cemetery in the city of Czesniki, in southeastern Poland, according to a statement from the local Polish prosecutor's office on Wednesday, adding that, based on the findings so far, no one was injured, reports Reuters.
Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace during a widespread Russian attack in western Ukraine on Wednesday. The NATO member country described the incursion as an "act of aggression."