The incursion was the first time alliance planes had engaged enemy targets in NATO airspace. Poland’s leader called it “a large-scale provocation.”

On Friday, Russia and Belarus are set to begin their joint military exercises. Poland announced earlier this week that it will shut down its border with Belarus during the Zapad-2025 drills, calling them “very aggressive”.

Alicja and Tomasz Wesolowski from Wyryki, whose house was destroyed after Russian drones violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine, with some being shot down by Poland with the backing from its NATO allies, talk to Reuters outside their house, in Wyryki, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel