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Polish airspace was ‘violated by huge number of Russian drones’, says PM TuskLast night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on X on Wednesday adding that drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.Tusk wrote on X:
Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.
I am in constant communication with the secretary general of Nato and our allies.
Polish state fire service Cmdr Wojciech Kruczek and Gen Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the general staff of the Polish armed forces, gather at the Chancellery of the prime minister for an extraordinary government meeting, after violations of Polish airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine. Photograph: Kacper Pempel/ReutersShareUpdated at 07.49 BSTKey eventsnow19 violations of Polish airspace overnight, most likely four drones shot down, Tusk says6m agoPM Tusk briefing parliament on last night’s violation of Polish airspace17m agoMacron calls airspace incursion into Poland during Russian attack ‘simply unacceptable’25m agoPolish president to call security council meeting within 48 hours37m agoUkraine’s Zelenskyy says Poland deliberately targeted in Russian attack1h agoNato to discuss drones that entered Poland during regular meeting on Wednesday1h agoRussian drones’ entry into European airspace was likely intentional, Kallas says1h agoPoland is ready to react to attacks and ‘provocations’, says PM Tusk1h agoEU must develop ‘drone wall’ along eastern flank, defence commissioner says2h agoPolish airspace was ‘violated by huge number of Russian drones’, says PM Tusk2h agoZelenskyy says Russian attack sets ‘an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe’2h agoAirports reopen in Warsaw, Modlin and Rzeszow3h agoDrone interception operation has ended, military says, but search continues for debris3h agoWarsaw’s Chopin airport reopens3h agoUkrainian foreign minister calls for strong response, warns ‘Putin’s sense of impunity keeps growing’4h agoWhat we know so far5h agoWelcome and summaryShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this feature19 violations of Polish airspace overnight, most likely four drones shot down, Tusk saysTusk tells lawmakers that the Polish army first decided to escalate its response to Russian attacks on Ukraine just after 10pm local time.The first violation of the Polish airspace occurred around 11:30pm on Tuesday, and the last one was reported 6:30am this morning. “It gives you an idea of the scale of this operation,” he says.Preliminary reports indicate there were 19 airspace violations, with a significant number of drones crossing into Poland from Belarus.Three drones have been confirmed shot down, while a fourth is believed to have been brought down as well. Authorities are working to verify and finalise these figures, he says.SharePM Tusk briefing parliament on last night’s violation of Polish airspacePolish PM Donald Tusk is speaking in the Polish parliament now, briefing lawmakers on last night’s events.I will bring you all the key lines here.ShareJakub KrupaIt’s Jakub Krupa here, taking over from Amy Sedghi to guide you through the rest of the day with the latest updates from Poland.Good morning.ShareEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in her state of the union speech on Wednesday that the commission will propose a new qualitative military edge programme to support investment in the Ukrainian military’s capabilities.She also said that Europe stands in full solidarity with Poland after the “violation” of its airspace.Von der Leyen added that more sanctions on Russia are needed and that in sanction talks, phasing out of Russian fossil fuels faster were being looked at. She also said that sanctions on the shadow oil fleet and third countries were being discussed.The European Commission president also spoke about the need to work on a “new solution” to finance Ukraine using frozen Russian assets. “We can povide Ukraine with a reparations loan using the cash balances associated with frozen Russian assets,” von der Leyen said, adding that Ukraine would only pay back the loan once Russia paid for the reparations.ShareMacron calls airspace incursion into Poland during Russian attack ‘simply unacceptable’French president Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that the incursion of drones during a Russian attack on western Ukraine into Polish airspace was “simply unacceptable,” adding that he would speak soon to Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.Macron wrote in a post on social media platform X:
We will not compromise on the safety of our allies.
ShareThe Russian drone attack that also hit Poland is test of Nato countries’ defence capabilities, and it is difficult to believe it to just be a coincidence, Czech prime minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday.Fiala said on X social media platform:
The night-time Russian drone attack, which also struck Polish territory, is a test of the defence capabilities of Nato countries. It is hard to believe that this was a mere coincidence.
[Russian president Vladimir] Putin’s regime threatens all of Europe and systematically probes how far it can go. It is reassuring that Poland’s air defence systems responded effectively. It is clear that Russia is attempting to harm the inhabitants of other European countries.
We stand with Poland, because they are on the frontline as our allies. Please keep this in mind-especially now, when many extremists are trying to convince you that Russia is not an enemy and that the solution lies in disarmament.
SharePolish president to call security council meeting within 48 hoursPolish president Karol Nawrocki decided to call a meeting of the national security council within 48 hours as Poland shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace during a widespread Russian attack in western Ukraine, reports Reuters.“ … news that we will have full information about what happened in Poland within 48 hours led me to the decision to convene the national security council within 48 hours,” Karol Nawrocki said adding the situation was unprecedented moment in Nato’s and Poland’s history.ShareThe European Union stands in full solidarity with Poland after drones from a Russian attack in western Ukraine entered Polish airspace, EU Council president António Costa said on Wednesday.He wrote on X:
Last night’s events are a stark reminder that the security of one is the security of all.
We stand in full solidarity with Poland following Russia’s unacceptable violation of its airspace. Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine and reckless airspace incursions into EU member states pose a direct threat to the safety of all Europeans and to critical infrastructure across our continent.
Poland is right to take necessary steps to defend its sovereignty. Europe is increasing investment in its defence, because peace and security in Europe cannot be taken for granted.
ShareTwo German Patriot air defence systems deployed to Poland were involved in the detection of Russian drones over Polish territory overnight, a security source told Reuters on Wednesday.ShareUkraine’s Zelenskyy says Poland deliberately targeted in Russian attackUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Poland was deliberately targeted in a Russian drone attack overnight.“Increasing evidence indicates that this movement, this direction of strike, was no accident,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.He wrote:
More information is coming in about the intrusion of Russian attack drones into Polish territory. As of now, it’s known about eight drones. Increasing evidence indicates that this movement, this direction of strike, was no accident. There have been previous incidents of individual Russian drones crossing the border and traveling a short distance into neighboring countries. But this time, we are recording a much larger scale and deliberate targeting.
Ukraine is ready to provide Poland with all the necessary data available regarding this Russian strike. Ukraine is also ready to help Poland build an effective system of warning and protection against such Russian threats. It is clear that Russian aggression poses a danger to every independent nation in our region, and therefore only joint and coordinated action can guarantee reliable security.
The precedent of using combat aircraft from several European countries simultaneously to shoot down Russian weapons and protect human lives is highly significant. Ukraine has long proposed to its partners the creation of a joint air-defence system to ensure the guaranteed downing of ‘shaheds’, other drones, and missiles through the combined strength of our combat aviation and air defenses. Together, Europeans are always stronger. Russia must feel that the response to this escalatory step, and even more so to an attempt to humiliate one of Europe’s key countries, will be clear and strong from all partners.
ShareNato is not treating the drone incursion into Polish territory as an attack, a Nato source told Reuters on Wednesday, adding initial indications suggested an intentional incursion of six to ten Russian drones. “It was the first time Nato aircraft have engaged potential threats allied airspace,” the source said, adding Nato’s Patriot air defence systems in the region had detected the drones with their radars but not engaged them.Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35, Italian Awacs surveillance planes and mid-air refueling aircraft jointly operated by Nato were involved in the overnight operation, according to the source.ShareRussia’s drone incursions into Polish airspace are more proof that Moscow’s war against Ukraine is a threat to “us all” and Nato should reinforce air defence on the frontline without delay, Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavský said on Wednesday.Lipavský said in a post on social media platform X:
Czechia stands in full solidarity with our ally Poland.
Russia’s reckless drone incursions into Polish airspace are yet another proof that Moscow’s war against Ukraine threatens us all.
Nato must reinforce air defence on the frontier without delay. [Russian president Vladimir] Putin will not stop unless we stop him – hand in hand with tougher sanctions.
ShareReuters has provided more detail on an earlier report that a drone or similar object struck a residential building in Wyryki in eastern Poland. Nobody was injured, the local mayor told state-run news channel TVP Info.Wyryki mayor Bernard Blaszczuk told the news channel:
At 6.45 am, I received a phone call from one of the office workers saying something had fallen.
A drone or missile definitely hit the roof; we don’t know at this point … The police are providing security, and we have a crisis management team on site.
Reuters reports that footage on TVP Info showed a house with a damaged roof and the rafters showing.Elsewhere in eastern Poland’s Lublin region police said they found a damaged drone in the village of Czosnowka. The district prosecutor’s office in Zamosc, also in the Lublin region, said it had been informed of the discovery of drone components, near a cemetery in the town of Czesniki.ShareNato to discuss drones that entered Poland during regular meeting on WednesdayThe North Atlantic Council (Nato) is meeting on Wednesday morning for a regular session and will discuss how Nato responded to the drones that entered Poland overnight, Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said.ShareUpdated at 08.33 BSTRussian drones’ entry into European airspace was likely intentional, Kallas saysEarly indications suggest the entry of Russian drones into European airspace was intentional, not accidental, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.Kallas wrote in a post on X:
Russia’s war is escalating, not ending.
We must raise the cost on Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s defence. The EU plays a major role and we will support initiatives like the eastern border shield defence line.
She also described the Russian attack, where drones entered Polish airspace, as “the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began”.Kallas added that she is in touch with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and deputy prime minister of Poland Radosław Sikorski. “The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland,” said Kallas.SharePoland is ready to react to attacks and ‘provocations’, says PM TuskPoland is ready to react to any attacks or provocations, the Polish prime minister said after the country shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace during a widespread Russian attack in western Ukraine.According to Reuters, Donald Tusk said:
We are dealing with a large-scale provocation … We are ready to repel such provocations. The situation is serious, and no one doubts that we must prepare for various scenarios.
ShareNato is consulting closely with Poland after it shot down drones that entered its airspace during a Russian attack in western Ukraine, a Nato spokesperson wrote in a post on social media platform X.Nato secretary general Mark Rutte “is in touch with Polish leadership,” the spokesperson said.Share
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