Poland shoots down Russian drones after ‘unprecedented airspace violation’ – live updates

Russian drones didn’t just stray into Poland – they went deep to test the Westpublished at 05:36 British Summer Time

05:36 BST

Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe correspondent, reporting from Kyiv

This happened during the latest Russian attack across Ukraine, where the air raid began before midnight, with warnings of at least 100 drones in the air – and of Russia preparing missiles for launch.

Then, as Ukrainians took to shelters underground, the online channels that they watched began reporting several of those drones crossing into Poland.

They began writing in Polish, warning people there to take cover. “Chelm – to the shelters!” , “Zamosc – into the shelters!”

This feels like an escalation by Moscow – testing the West’s response. Because it appears its drones didn’t just stray into Poland.

They went deep enough for even Warsaw airport to be closed.

And it’s happening as the aerial attacks on Ukraine have become far bigger – and more frequent.

Then last weekend, a Russian missile hit the main government building here. Before that, the EU and British Council buildings in Kyiv were damaged.

Russian drones have crossed Ukraine’s western border before. A Russian missile even landed in a forest once, but didn’t detonate.

In 2022, two villagers were killed close to the border, apparently after Ukrainian air defence downed a missile. So the Polish air force now scrambles, whenever the threat gets close.

But they’ve never shot anything down before. So this is new territory for Poland – and for Nato.