The Kremlin criticized today the European Union (EU) and NATO for accusing Russia of "provocations" on a daily basis, in response to allegations that Russian drones violated Poland's airspace, as reported by Efe. "The leaders of the EU and NATO accuse Russia of provocations daily. Most of the time without even attempting to present arguments," said Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesperson, during his daily phone press conference.
Rutte: "The violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones is not an isolated incident"
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Wednesday that the violation of Poland's airspace by Russian drones the previous night "is not an isolated incident" and is currently being analyzed, without commenting on whether it was intentional, as reported by Efe. "A comprehensive assessment of the incident is being conducted. What is clear is that last night's violation is not an isolated incident," Rutte said in a brief statement to the press following a North Atlantic Council meeting requested by Warsaw.
The Kremlin states that the drone incident in Poland falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense
The Kremlin declined to comment on Poland's statement regarding the downing of Russian drones in its airspace, stating that it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense. Poland claimed that a large number of Russian drones violated its airspace during the incident, and those posing a direct threat were shot down. "We prefer not to comment, as it is not within our competence; it is the prerogative of the Ministry of Defense," said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to journalists from various media outlets, including AFP, during a briefing.
Russia claims that the downed drones in Poland came from Ukraine
A Russian diplomat stated on Wednesday that the drones shot down by Poland in Polish airspace during the night originated from Ukraine, as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA. "We know one thing: these drones were flying from Ukraine," said Russia's chargé d'affaires in Warsaw, Andrei Ordash, after leaving the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
British Defense Minister describes Russian actions as "reckless" and "dangerous"
British Defense Minister John Healey described Russia's actions against Polish airspace on Wednesday as "reckless, unprecedented, and dangerous" before chairing a meeting in London of the E5, the group of European countries coordinating military support for Ukraine, as reported by Efe. "Russia's actions are reckless, unprecedented, and dangerous. We strongly condemn these attacks and tell President Putin: Your aggression only strengthens the unity among NATO countries," Healey declared to the media before the E5 meeting - composed of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland - at a military headquarters. He added that Putin has taken his aggression "to a new level of hostility" and that the violation of Polish airspace was deep enough to prompt the closure of Warsaw airport and NATO aircraft to directly shoot down the Russian drones.
Polish Interior Ministry claims to have found seven drones and missile fragments
Poland has found seven drones and fragments of a missile following the drone intrusion into Polish airspace during the night, stated Interior Ministry spokesperson Karolina Galecka at a press conference, as reported by Reuters. "Seven drones and remnants of an unidentified missile have been found," Galecka declared.
Poland summons Russian chargé d'affaires over drone incursion in Polish airspace
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires, Andrei Ordash, today over the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, reported RIA Novosti, as per Efe. Ordash assured RIA Novosti that the accusations arising from the incursion are "baseless" and that Warsaw "has not provided any evidence that these drones are of Russian origin."