The overnight Russian drone attack on Poland on 10 September could be connected to the joint military exercises of Russia and Belarus, known as Zapad-2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in his evening address. As reported by The WP Times, citing his remarks, this was not a coincidence or mistake but a calculated move.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian forces had tracked the movement of Russian drones towards the Polish border from the earliest hours of the night. “The Russians used both our territory and Belarus to enter Polish airspace. Nearly twenty drones crossed into Poland, and from the Ukrainian side they deployed less than half of the total. This was a calculated Russian activity, and we see how difficult it was to deal with,” he said.
The president stressed that Ukraine had offered Poland the necessary support to counter Russian drones. “Nobody can guarantee that there will not be hundreds if we already see dozens of drones. Only joint European forces can provide protection. We are ready to help with technology, crew training and the necessary intelligence,” Zelensky stated.
He also underlined that Russia had yet to face a firm reaction in deeds from global leaders over its attacks. “There are plenty of statements, but there is still a shortage of action. The Russians are testing the limits of what is possible, testing the reaction. They are observing how NATO forces act, what they can and cannot do for now. Joint drills have begun with Russia in Belarus, and this may be considered part of the exercise plan,” he emphasised.
Drone attack on Poland
During the overnight assault on Ukraine, several Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Poland’s air defence began intercepting the aerial targets. Prime Minister Donald Tusk later confirmed that 19 Russian drones had been detected over Polish territory, four of which were shot down.
Debris from the downed drones was found in 11 locations across Poland, including one crash site inside a Territorial Defence Forces unit. In response, NATO invoked Article 4, allowing member states to discuss the situation within the North Atlantic Council.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the Alliance’s reaction as “very successful”, stressing that the night had demonstrated NATO’s readiness to defend every inch of its territory, including its airspace.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defence denied responsibility, claiming that the drones’ maximum range “did not exceed 700 kilometres” and insisting that no targets in Poland had been intended.
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