Poland set to let military take down drones over Ukraine independently

The publication mentioned that the Ministry of Defense submitted the amendment in June, and lawmakers plan to fast-track it.

The original law was introduced on Feb. 23, 2022 — just one day before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It limited Warsaw’s ability to act independently in defending against drones crossing from Belarus or Ukraine. A later inquiry into Russian influence criticized the restriction as undermining Poland’s security.

In response, the Defense Ministry has now drafted a bill restoring military flexibility. Its principle is clear: “shoot first, ask later.”

The move follows an incident on Sept. 10, when nearly two dozen Russian drones violated Polish airspace, with several crossing in from Belarus. Four were shot down.

NATO reacted by launching Operation Eastern Sentry, a mission to reinforce the Alliance’s eastern borders.

On Sept. 22, Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Poland will destroy any object violating its skies if necessary.