Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russian drones entered Poland’s airspace during an attack on Ukraine early Wednesday, and were shot down with the help of NATO allies.
Prime Minister Tusk said Poland was dealing with a “large-scale provocation,” with 19 drone incursions occurring overnight, with four shot down. A significant number of the drones flew in from Belarus, used as a launching pad by Russia. Belarus claimed the drones had lost their way, and had also shot some drones down over their territory.
Russia claimed the accusations were groundless, and did not plan to attack Poland, and was ready to hold “consultations with the Polish Ministry of Defense.”
Tusk said he had activated article four of NATO’s treaty, under which alliance members can demand consultations with their allies, and that he was in touch with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who called the incursion “reckless behavior,” irrespective of whether it was deliberate.