Poland and Romania scramble jets after Russian drones violate airspace
- Poland and Romania both responded to the violation of airspace by scrambling fighter jets.
- This incident marks the continuation of Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace.
- European leaders have collectively condemned these actions as deliberate provocations by Russia.
On September 14, 2025, NATO allies Poland and Romania responded to increased air aggression as Russian drones violated their airspace. In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the country had elevated its defenses to a maximum readiness due to the threat posed by Russian drones operating near the Ukrainian border. Concurrently, Romania reported a separate incident of a Russian drone entering its territory. Romanian F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to monitor the airspace after an attack on Ukrainian infrastructure. The drone was tracked southwest of Chilia Veche, where it later disappeared from radar without posing an imminent threat to the population. The Romanian Defense Ministry highlighted that this was the eleventh breach of its airspace since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. Prior to this violation, a ministry spokesperson noted around 50 instances in which Russian drones had targeted Ukrainian territory near Romania's borders, with many drone debris falling into Romanian territory. The Romanian officials emphasized that these violations are becoming frequent and unacceptable, suggesting a test of NATO's defensive capabilities by Russia. European leaders are increasingly viewing these incursions as deliberate acts rather than accidents of war. This conclusion was supported by evidence from the Polish government regarding multiple Russian drones entering Poland recently. There were about 19 drones reported to have penetrated Polish airspace, with some targeting a significant NATO airbase, resulting in three being shot down. This escalation has raised alarms among NATO allies, underscoring the need for a coordinated response against such provocations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out that the incursion of a Russian drone into NATO airspace signals a dangerous expansion of the conflict. NATO's military response was underscored by additional preventative measures and increased readiness levels across its eastern flank, stressing the organization's commitment to defending its members against potential threats posed by Russia.