Poland downs Russian drones, Zelenskyy calls airspace breach a 'dangerous precedent'

[Top view of Russian army Shahid combat drone in the sky against clouds, flying over the ground war in Ukraine, drone attack, 3d render.]
Olena Bartienieva/iStock via Getty Images

Poland shot down drones that violated its airspace during an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine, marking the first time that a NATO member directly fired shots in the war.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the airspace violation a "provocation on a large scale" and added that he is in constant communication with NATO's secretary general and allies.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least eight Russian-Iranian "Shahed" drones were directed toward Polish airspace, adding that the escalation "an extremely dangerous precedent" for Europe.

Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for defense and space, said the EU must urgently develop a drone wall along the entire EU Eastern flank. "We shall work together with Member States, frontier countries and Ukraine. Russia will be stopped."

Kaja Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, said this was "the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental."

While Moscow has not commented on the attack, its ally Belarus claimed that the drones "lost their way" and entered Polish airspace accidentally. Pavel Muravyeika, Belarus' deputy defense minister, said Belarus also shot down some drones over its territory, _BBC _reported [https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c2enwk1l9e1t].

Poland previously said it would close its border with Belarus on Thursday at midnight on account of Russia-led large-scale military exercises in Belarus. These drills have also raised security concerns in NATO members Lithuania and Latvia.

MORE ON UKRAINE WAR

* EUAD: The 'Other' Way To Profit As Rearmament Of Europe Begins [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4817030-euad-other-way-to-profit-as-rearmament-of-europe-begins]
* XAR Vs. DFEN: Defense ETFs Amid The Putin-Trump-Zelenskyy Triangulation [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4816122-xar-vs-dfen-defense-etfs-amid-the-putin-trump-zelenskyy-triangulation]
* Russia sanctions: Trump weighs in, Bessent calls for increasing economic pressure [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4492939-trump-russia-sanctions-ukraine-bessent]
* EU weighs new sanctions on Russia targeting banks and oil trade; crude prices rise [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4492940-eu-reportedly-weighs-new-sanctions-on-russia-targeting-banks-and-oil-trade-crude-prices-rise]