Russian drone attack on Poland neutralized, no panic needed, Tusk says

He described it as a "massive provocation," but said all procedures worked flawlessly, and the threat was neutralized thanks to commanders, soldiers, and allies.

Tusk clarified that the drones posing a direct threat were shot down.

"This is the first instance of Russian drones being shot down over the territory of a NATO country. All our allies are taking the situation very seriously," he added.

According to Tusk, the closure of airports was driven solely by the operational needs of the military, not a direct threat of attack. Searches for the wreckage of downed drones are ongoing.

The situation is reportedly under control, and contingency plans for such incidents are effective.

"There is no cause for panic. Life will continue normally," he said.

“We will keep citizens informed about all events. There is no need to introduce restrictions that would complicate daily life.”

Tusk noted that he is in constant contact with top military leadership and President Karol Nawrocki.

"We have been talking for many hours and assessing the consequences of these dramatic events. We are also evaluating future needs," the Polish prime minister stated.

Additionally, he urged politicians, journalists, and commentators to be cautious of potential disinformation attempts. Tusk warned that from the first minutes of the attack, Russia has been actively spreading fakes and trying to sow panic.

Russian drone attack on Poland

During Russia's massive attack on Ukraine, several drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace. Warsaw called it an "unprecedented act of aggression."

Polish military forces used weapons against some of the drones and confirmed that several were shot down. Searches for crash sites are ongoing, involving territorial defense forces.

Due to the threat to aviation, Poland temporarily closed four airports, including Warsaw Chopin, Warsaw-Modlin, Rzeszów-Jasionka, and Lublin. The situation is being continuously monitored.

In response to the drone attack, Poland heightened security measures and introduced emergency readiness for its Territorial Defense Forces (WOT) in border regions. Soldiers in the Podlaskie, Masovian, Lublin, and Subcarpathian voivodeships could receive call-up notices with reporting times of up to six hours; in several other voivodeships, up to 12 hours.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an emergency government meeting at 9 a.m. and is holding consultations with key defense and security ministers. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was also informed of the situation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the attack involved at least eight Russian-Iranian strike drones that crossed into Polish and NATO airspace. He emphasized that Russia's further actions depend on a decisive and coordinated response from partners and called for joint measures to deter the aggressor and demonstrate consequences for its actions.