Payam Javan: Poland has requested the activation of Article 4 of the NATO treaty after shooting down Russian drones that entered its airspace during a major Russian strike on Ukraine. Polish officials said 19 aerial objects crossed the border, some posing direct threats, and confirmed that it was the first time Russian drones were downed over NATO territory. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as a “large-scale provocation” and warned that the situation marked a serious escalation.

The incident sparked swift reactions across Europe, with NATO allies and EU officials condemning the violation of Polish sovereignty. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it the “most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began,” suggesting it was intentional rather than accidental. Leaders in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia also voiced alarm, stressing that Russia’s actions threaten not only Ukraine but the entire NATO alliance.

Poland’s military confirmed support from the Netherlands, which contributed F-35 fighter jets to overnight operations, and said searches for possible crash sites are ongoing. President Karol Nawrocki emphasized that national security remains the country’s top priority. While Russian officials dismissed the accusations as “groundless,” Polish authorities continue to investigate damage on the ground, including a house strike in the Lublin region, though no injuries were reported.