Russian drones have been shot down over Poland after crossing the border from Ukraine, the Polish military has said.
Nato scrambled its fighter jets in the eastern European country after a tip-off by the Ukrainian Air Force that Shahed "suicide drones" were inside its airspace.
After hours of speculation, the Polish army released a statement confirming its airspace was "repeatedly violated" by drones.
"An operation is underway to identify and neutralise the targets," it continued. "Weapons have been used, and operations are underway to locate the downed targets."
Three regions of eastern Poland were marked 'most vulnerable' during the Russian drone incursion
|GB NEWS
Shortly before 3am, UK time, it added that a military operation was "ongoing" and ordered citizens to stay at home.
Poland's Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said: "Over Poland, an operation to neutralise objects that have violated and exceeded the border of the Republic of Poland is underway.
"All services are in action. We ask you to follow the announcements of the Polish army and the police."
Prime Minister Donald Tusk later said: "An operation is underway related to the repeated violation of Polish airspace. The military has used weaponry against the objects."
'We ask you to follow the announcements of the Polish army and the police,' Cezary Tomczyk said
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Poland earlier closed its airspace around Warsaw Chopin and Warsaw-Modlin airports, alongside others in the cities of Rzeszow and Lublin due to "unplanned military activity".
Poland's operational command wrote on social media: "Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness."
The command added that the measures in place are aimed at protecting citizens living in the country's eastern region near the Ukrainian border.
It later listed three regions as the "most vulnerable": Podlaskie, Lublin and Mazowieckie - the latter of which contains capital Warsaw.
The command added that the measures in place are aimed at protecting citizens living in the country's western region (file photo)
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NOTAMs active for four airports and traffic areas in Poland all with the same text. Warsaw, Lublin, Rzeszow and Modlin: NOT AVBL DUE TO UNPLANNED MILITARY ACTIVITY RELATED TO ENSURING STATE SECURITY.
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 10, 2025
Overflights are continuing through the areas, but further west than usual. pic.twitter.com/HdTEEa55T5
The Ukrainian Air Force warned the Russian drones were heading towards the Polish city of Zamosc in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
It was also reported that one drone was travelling in the direction of Rzeszow, however this claim has not been verified by Poland's operational command.
The number of drones of Russian origin said to have breached Polish airspace has not been confirmed by authorities in the region.
Poland's operation command have said their forces are in a state of alert and will continue to assess the situation.
Polish MEP Dominik Tarczynski said: "We are waiting for official information about that Russian drone attack. We are waiting, and be careful about what is on the internet right now."
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Republican US Congressman Joe Wilson directly claimed that Russia was 'attacking' Poland
|GETTY
But Republican US Congressman Joe Wilson said that Russia was "attacking" Poland.
"Russia is attacking Nato ally Poland with Iranian Shahed drones less than a week after President Trump hosted President Nawrocki at the White House," he said.
"This is an act of war, and we are grateful to Nato allies for their swift response to war criminal Putin's continued unprovoked aggression against free and productive nations.
"I urge President Trump to respond with mandatory sanctions that will bankrupt the Russian war machine and arm Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russia.
"Putin is no longer content just losing in Ukraine while bombing mothers and babies, he is now directly testing our resolve in Nato territory.
"Putin stated that 'Russia knows no borders'. Free and prosperous nations will teach Russia about borders."
'Russia is attacking Nato ally Poland with Iranian Shahed drones,' Joe Wilson fumed
|REUTERS
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|GB NEWS
Democrat Senator Dick Durbin suggested on social media the Russian drones were "testing" Nato's willingness to defend its allies.
He wrote: "Repeated violations of Nato airspace by Russian drones are fair warning that Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to protect Poland and the Baltic nations.
"After the carnage Putin continues to visit on Ukraine, these incursions cannot be ignored."
The breach comes just one day before Poland is set to close its border with Belarus on Thursday amid the “very aggressive” Zapad joint-military exercises between the Russian ally and Putin's forces, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed on Tuesday.