Poland downs Russian drones

New Delhi, Sep 10: Polish armed forces shot down several Russian drones that violated the country’s airspace during overnight strikes on Ukraine, the first time a Nato member has directly engaged Russian assets in its own skies since the war began in 2022, the BBC reports. The Polish military said fighter jets were scrambled in the early hours, after radar detected multiple drone-like objects crossing the border.

Nato aircraft also took part in the operation. In a statement, the armed forces described the incident as an “unprecedented violation of Polish airspace” and “an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.”

Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that an operation “related to multiple violations of Polish airspace” was under way, adding that he was in direct contact with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He announced that an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers would convene at 8am local time to assess the situation. Authorities urged residents in three regions along the border with Ukraine, including Mazowieckie, where the capital Warsaw is located, to stay indoors and take shelter.