POLAND shot down Russian drones overnight after what Warsaw blasted as an “unprecedented violation” of its airspace – sparking chaos as millions were told to shelter and major airports were shut.
NATO warplanes roared into action as at least eight hostile drones crossed into Poland, with air defences blasting several out of the sky and one smashing into a house in the eastern village of Wyryki.
11
11
11
Wreckage was also found in Czosnowka as terrified residents were ordered to stay indoors across three regions.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed “an operation is underway” and called an emergency cabinet meeting, while President Karol Nawrocki vowed Poland’s “highest priority” is defending its homeland in close cooperation with NATO.
Kyiv blasted the strike as a dangerous escalation, accusing Vladimir Putin of testing the West.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said eight Shahed drones were launched “in the direction of Poland” overnight, calling it a “new level of escalation,” according to a government post on a public Telegram channel.
His foreign minister Andriy Sybiga added: “Putin just keeps escalating, expanding his war, and testing the West.
“The longer he faces no strength in response, the more aggressive he gets.”
Millions of citizens in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie and Lublin were ordered to stay indoors as chaos unfolded overnight.
Videos captured the roar of military aircraft soaring above Lublin in eastern Poland.
Meanwhile, Warsaw’s Chopin hub and three other airports, including Rzeszow-Jasionka near the Ukrainian border, were shut down.
Chopin International Airport later reopened near 7am UK time.
Police later discovered wreckage from a drone in the eastern village of Czosnowka around 5.40am UK time.
A drone also struck a residential building in the eastern Polish village of Wyryki, though no injuries were reported, according to local police cited by broadcaster Polsat News.
The overnight chaos marks the first time NATO air defences have been directly triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine – a dramatic escalation raising fears of wider conflict.
The Polish Armed Forces confirmed “weapons have been used” in a dramatic statement after Russian drones crossed into their territory during a massive strike on Ukraine.
In a statement, Poland’s military command said: “There was an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace.
“This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.”
Warss’s Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosinak-Kamysz Said Poland is “in constant contact with nato command” as the crisis unfolds.
Warsaw’s operational command earlier shared the tense news in a post on X, writing: “Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness.”
Poland’s NATO allies rushed to voice solidarity, with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson branding the violations “unacceptable” and vowing “full support” for Warsaw.
Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs declared “Russian aggression in Ukraine affects us directly,” while Norway’s foreign minister called the incursion “deeply concerning and entirely unacceptable.”
11
11
11
Russia’s drones appeared to be targeting Ukraine’s western city of Lviv, where blasts were reported by mayor Andriy Sadovy.
The overnight chaos marks the first time NATO air defences have been directly triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine – a dramatic escalation raising fears of wider conflict.
It came ahead of major Zapad 2025 war games between Russia and authoritarian ally Belarus, which borders NATO states Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.
The military exercises – which will include rehearsing for nuclear strikes on the West – are scheduled for 12-16 September.
Moscow, meanwhile, continues to barrage Ukraine with relentless drone strikes.
Poland, a member of the NATO alliance, shares a border with Ukraine and has been one of Kyiv’s key international backers.
The Ukrainian Air Force earlier said on Telegram that Russian drones were tearing towards the city of Zamosc.
A Russian airstrike also killed at least 24 people and injured 19 others in the Donetsk region.
A glide bomb struck the village of Yarova, which was home to around 1,700 people before the war.
Valium Filashkin, head of Donetsk Military Administration, said: “This is not military action – this is pure terrorism.”
Vladimir Putin’s forces continue to wreak devastation across Ukraine as Moscow’s brutal full-scale invasion grinds on.
On Sunday, Russia unleashed a vicious barrage against Ukraine that killed four people.
A two-month old baby was among the victims of the barbaric strikes.
11
11
Poland is a member state of NATO, giving it protections under the Article 5 mutual defence agreement.
This means that an attack on one member state is deemed an attack on all, obliging countries including the US, the UK and France to come to their aid if the clause is invoked.
Pressure is mounting on the United States and allies to impose deeper sanctions on Russia amid the intensifying onslaught.
Speaking on the White House lawn after the attacks this weekend, Donald Trump said he’s “not happy with the whole situation”.
Sunday’s attack saw 805 drones and a dozen ballistic and cruise missiles fired at some of Ukraine’s largest cities.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko told The New York Post the “barbaric attack proved we have to do whatever it takes to stop Russian war machine fuelled by oil and gas revenue”.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
11
11
