WARSAW, SANA- Poland warned on Wednesday that the incursion of 19 explosive drones into its airspace during a Russian strike on western Ukraine represented the most serious security threat to Europe since World War II.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the incident could trigger Article 4 of NATO’s founding treaty, which allows member states to consult when they feel their territorial integrity or security is under threat.
“This is a critical moment,” Tusk said, adding that Poland had recovered debris from 12 drones. “We are not facing random fallout. This looks deliberate.”
The Russian Defense Ministry denied any involvement, insisting its strikes targeted only locations inside Ukraine. The Kremlin accused NATO and the European Union of making baseless allegations, saying it had received no formal diplomatic contact from Warsaw.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed growing evidence indicates the drone strike was intentional and aimed at destabilizing Poland.
In response to the breach, Tusk held calls with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and several European leaders. They offered both solidarity and proposals to enhance Polish air defense systems.
The United States reiterated its commitment to NATO’s collective defense, while the United Nations warned of the risk of regional escalation.
Meanwhile, a comment by U.S. presidential Donald Trump, which made no direct reference to NATO obligations, triggered concern across European capitals.
Poland’s Interior Ministry confirmed that drone debris had been located in multiple sites in the southeast. An investigation is ongoing to determine the drones’ exact flight paths and points of origin.
Nisreen / Manar
