NATO does not consider the intrusion of Russian drones into Polish airspace as an attack. According to 'Khvylia', Reuters reports this. According to a source in the Alliance, the violation of Polish airspace by at least 6-10 drones is regarded as deliberate, but not as an attack on the country. At the same time, the interlocutor emphasized that NATO aircraft were involved for the first time in repelling potential threats in allied skies.
'This was the first case when NATO aircraft attacked potentially dangerous objects in the airspace of an ally,' he said.
Furthermore, the source clarified that the Patriot air defense systems deployed in the region detected the drones using radars, but were not utilized to engage targets. The operation involved Polish F-16 fighters, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS long-range radar detection aircraft, and air refueling aircraft under NATO command.
For the first time, Russian drones violated Polish airspace
It is worth noting that on the night of September 10, Russian combat drones of the 'Shahed' type violated Polish airspace. According to Ukraine, there were 8 drones. This occurred during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine involving 415 drones and 40 missiles. The NATO country intercepted Russian drones over its territory for the first time.
First of all, it is necessary to emphasize that NATO does not consider the actions of Russian drones in Polish airspace as an attack, although they are viewed as a deliberate violation. Importantly, this marked the first instance when NATO aircraft carried out an attack on potentially dangerous objects in an ally's airspace. The event indicates a new stage in the development of the situation in the region and highlights the significance of international military cooperation to ensure security. It is extremely important that defensive systems were successfully engaged to protect the member countries of the Alliance.