An unnamed Nato officer, cited in a report by Germany’s Die Welt, said the drones were on a direct flight to the base, which was also unnamed.

Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace on Wednesday, the first time a member of NATO is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine.

Poland on Sept 10 said several Russian drones had entered its airspace overnight as Moscow carried out an attack on neighbouring Ukraine, and that it shot some of them down.