NATO has responded to the reported incursion of a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into Polish airspace, stating that there is no evidence that the act was intentional but labeling it as "irresponsible and potentially dangerous".
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Russian Geran -2 based on iranian Shahed 136 flying across Ukraine  (Picture source:  Residents)

In a written statement provided to the press by NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah, the incident, which occurred as part of Russia's ongoing military operations against Ukraine, was addressed. "Poland has reported that its airspace was likely violated by a drone during Russian attacks on Ukraine. We strongly condemn these ongoing attacks against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure," the statement read.

Poland's Report on the Incident

Polish authorities announced on August 26, 2024, that an "unidentified flying object" entered their airspace from Ukraine and that its signal subsequently disappeared from radars. This incident occurred as Ukraine faced one of the most intense air attacks by Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that more than 100 missiles and nearly 100 drones were used by Russian forces during a massive airstrike against Ukraine. Zelensky described this attack as one of the largest against his country since the beginning of the war.

Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for the Polish army's operational command, stated that it was most likely a drone, as the flight path and speed indicated that it was certainly not a missile. The object was searched for by 100 soldiers on the ground and a helicopter on August 26, 2024.

The Polish operational command detailed the events on Twitter.

In accordance with current procedures, the operational commander preemptively deployed all available forces and resources, with fighter jets and service helicopters being deployed. Meanwhile, ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance reached the highest level of readiness. Upon its entry into Polish airspace, attempts were made to visually verify the object to identify it before any potential neutralization. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, it was not possible to clearly identify it, which prevented a decision to shoot it down.

A Polish soldier carries a child while assisting a Ukrainian family after they crossed the border into Poland at Medyka on March 14, 2022. (Picture source : Louisa GOULIAMAKI) 

Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, fragments of Russian drones and missiles have repeatedly been discovered on NATO territory. There have been various incursions by missiles and drones in Poland and Romania, as well as the missile that fell in Poland, killing two farmers. It was later proven that this missile came from a Ukrainian version of the S-300.

Spokesperson Dakhlallah emphasized that although there is no information suggesting a deliberate Russian attack on NATO allies, such actions are considered "irresponsible and potentially dangerous."

Dakhlallah also noted that NATO has significantly strengthened its presence on the eastern flank of the alliance, particularly in Poland, in response to the conflict in Ukraine.