Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland in what European officials described Wednesday as a deliberate provocation, causing NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down. A NATO spokesman said it was the first time the alliance confronted a potential threat in its airspace.

This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

A continent already on edge over the Ukraine war sees a Russian challenge to NATO readiness and to an America that wants to disengage from Europe.

Poland's military said it shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace while they were attacking Ukraine on Sept. 10, 2025. Polish soldiers walk below as firefighters work on the destroyed roof of a house,

The response from the U.S. came hours after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the country’s airspace was “violated by a huge number of Russian drones” on Tuesday night and any drones that “posed a direct threat” were shot down. The incident marked the first time a NATO member has opened fire during the Ukraine war.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledged Thursday to push ahead with a “great modernization program” for his country’s military, a day after Russian drones crossed into Poland and amplified international tensions around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including what the Kremlin’s future territorial ambitions might be.

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