Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24, 2025. Getty Images/Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto
After Russian drones breached Poland’s airspace, the Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski addressed the allies with a call to consider intercepting Russian drones and missiles over Ukraine. According to data circulated by the media, the decision should be made by a coalition, not Poland alone.
“Technically we, as NATO and the EU, could do this, but this is a decision that Poland cannot make on its own, only together with its allies”
– Radosław Sikorski
He also proposed coordinating actions regarding the so-called shadow fleet of Russia in the Baltic Sea. According to the official, Germany or NATO itself could establish a maritime control zone in the North Sea, which would allow tracking the entry of Russian ships into the Baltic Sea and strengthen regional security.
Sikorski stressed that even the presence of a single sunken Russian vessel could trigger environmental disasters for the EU on an unprecedented scale, and he noted that two Russian ships have already sunk in the Sea of Azov.
What is known about the violation of Poland’s airspace by Russian drones
In the night of September 10, Russian drones breached Poland’s airspace. The military carried out an operation to neutralize them, for the first time shooting down targets over the country. Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed the NATO Secretary General and stated that Poland would not impose additional restrictions.
“Poland shot down about four of the nineteen drones that violated its airspace”
– Donald Tusk
Tusk said that one of the drones damaged the roof of a house and a car in the village of Wiryki-Wola in the Lublin Voivodeship, debris from the others were found in several settlements. That same day a NATO meeting was planned to discuss the response to the incident. Russia stated that during the attacks on Ukraine long-range drones of about 700 kilometers were used, allegedly crossing the border with Poland. The Russian side expressed willingness to consult with Poland’s Ministry of Defense regarding the incident.
This incident underscored heightened tensions in the region and emphasized the need for strengthened coordination among allies to ensure the security of airspace and maritime routes in the Baltic region.