Poland has officially announced the deployment of NATO troops to its territory in response to repeated breaches of the treaty’s airspace by the Kremlin. The operation, known as Eastern Sentry, is classified as top secret but involves the presence of NATO forces in Poland. This action follows Russia’s violation of Romanian airspace, including a significant incursion of 19 drones into Poland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the recent breach as an escalation of hostilities.
In the aftermath of Poland’s airspace breach, Warsaw requested NATO to activate Article 4 of the treaty, marking the beginning of significant NATO military activities. In response to Putin’s drone activities targeting Ukraine, NATO scrambled F-16s to intercept the drones entering Romanian airspace. Zelensky dismissed Russia’s claims of mistake, asserting that the actions represent a deliberate expansion of conflict.
Romania dispatched F-16s to monitor the situation after the drone strikes, labeling the breach as a new security challenge for the region. The Romanian defense ministry reported a drone detected in their airspace, tracked until it vanished from radar near Chilia Veche village, underscoring Russia’s disregard for international law.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the Russian incursion as a reckless security threat, emphasizing the violation of Romanian airspace and the escalation of regional tensions. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern over the drone incidents, describing it as the closest Poland has come to conflict since World War II.
Reports indicate that Nato fighter jets from Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the US successfully intercepted and downed four of the drones, with an additional seven drones discovered on Polish soil. Despite Kremlin denials, attempting to distance the drones from Russian origins and suggesting Ukrainian involvement, the situation remains tense and contentious.