Polish airport shut down following reports of Russian suicide drones in airspace
The Ukrainian Air Force reported early Wednesday that Russian Shahed drones had crossed into Polish airspace, prompting a rapid response from Polish and NATO forces. The incident marks a significant escalation, as Poland is a NATO member, and any breach of its airspace raises broader security concerns.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Poland’s Operational Command confirmed that both Polish and allied aircraft had been deployed, and that ground-based air defense and radar systems had been placed on the highest alert.
“Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace,” the statement read, adding that surveillance systems were fully activated in response to the threat.
The incursion occurred around 1:13 a.m. local time on September 10, when the Ukrainian Air Force reported a launch of multiple Shahed drones by Russia. These unmanned aerial vehicles, manufactured in Russia and Iran, are often used as loitering munitions—essentially kamikaze drones designed to detonate on impact.
“Drones detected in Poland, heading west toward the city of Zamość,” the Ukrainian Air Force announced in its alert. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 also showed commercial air traffic being rerouted further west as military operations intensified in eastern Poland.
Unconfirmed reports on social media monitoring channels suggested that Polish F-16 fighter jets had been scrambled to intercept the drones. As of 1:30 a.m., Ukrainian authorities had not officially confirmed any engagement with the drones over Poland.
The drone incursion followed a weekend of intensified Russian aggression against Ukraine, which saw Moscow launch its largest aerial assault since the war began. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the barrage included over 800 drones and decoys, killing four civilians and injuring 44 more.
“Emergency services are still dealing with the aftermath of last night’s ruthless air attack,” Zelensky said in a statement, calling on international partners to “force the Kremlin criminals to stop the killings.”
Meanwhile, a scheduled Oval Office briefing by President Donald Trump was abruptly canceled on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the cancellation was related to the developments in Eastern Europe.
The Daily Express US has reached out to the Ukrainian Air Force for further details on the drone incident.
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