Ukraine will provide Poland with access to systems that track drones approaching Polish territory, the country’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced.
This comes after Poland’s defense chief, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, traveled to Kyiv on Thursday, September 18, seeking Ukraine’s support in developing his country’s drone warfare capabilities.
The visit took place just over a week after Russian drones entered Polish airspace, exposing NATO’s vulnerability to drone warfare.
“We will be signing an agreement concerning cooperation between the (defense) ministries but also acquiring capabilities when it comes to operating drones,” read a statement published on the website of the Polish Ministry of Defense.
Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace on Wednesday, September 10, with support from NATO ally aircraft.
This marked the first known instance of a Western military alliance member firing shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Also Read: Trump Reveals When He Will Impose Sanctions on Russia in Letter to NATO
Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS surveillance planes, and NATO mid-air refuelling aircraft scrambled in an overnight operation to intercept drones entering Polish airspace from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning, officials said.
One drone crashed into the two-storey brick house of pensioner Tomasz Wesolowski in the eastern village of Wyryki-Wola at around 6:30 a.m., while he was downstairs watching news about the incursion.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that it was “the closest they have been to open conflict since World War Two,” though he added that he had “no reason to believe they are on the brink of war.”
Drones, used for both defense and attack, have become central to the battlefield in the more than three years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
They have transformed modern warfare, and many countries are now racing to master this rapidly evolving technology.
Also Read: Poland Shoots Down Drones During Russia-Ukraine War
Meanwhile, Moscow denied responsibility for the incident, with a senior Russian diplomat in Poland claiming the drones had come from the direction of Ukraine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged carrying out a major drone attack on military facilities in western Ukraine but insisted it had not planned to strike any targets in Poland.
“It is part of a series of consultations I’ve been conducting with our allies,” Nawrocki said in a post on X. “Today’s talks reaffirmed our unity.”
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” He did not elaborate.
The leaders of France, Britain, Germany, and Canada joined other NATO members in condemning the suspected Russian incursion.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
