The Polish army reported a massive invasion of Russian combat drones on Polish territory. The air defense system has been activated, and residents are asked to remain indoors. This is the largest drone attack in Polish history.
Yesterday evening, military radars detected over 200 Russian combat drones crossing the border from the Kaliningrad Oblast. The drones scattered across the country, attacking strategic military and civilian facilities.
"The situation is serious but under control," said General Tomasz Kowalski, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. "Our air defense systems are working efficiently and have already shot down 85% of enemy drones."
Polish air defense systems, including Patriot batteries and short-range systems, have been deployed at strategic points across the country. The military reported that all systems are operating at full capacity.
As a result of drone attacks, 12 military facilities were damaged, including the air base in Mińsk Mazowiecki and the command center in Warsaw. 8 soldiers were killed and 23 wounded. Among civilians, 3 fatalities were recorded.
The Polish President called on NATO for immediate assistance. "This is an attack on the entire alliance," he said during an emergency address. "Article 5 of the Washington Treaty should be activated."
NATO has already sent additional air defense systems to Poland, including THAAD batteries from the USA and IRIS-T systems from Germany. The alliance is also considering deploying additional fighter jets to Polish air bases.
Russia denies involvement in the attack, claiming the drones may have been "hijacked by terrorists." The Kremlin accuses Poland of "escalating tensions" and threatens "appropriate measures" in case of further actions.
Military experts say that drone attacks are a new form of hybrid warfare that can be difficult to defend against. "Traditional air defense systems don't always cope well with small, fast drones," said an expert from the Institute of Strategic Studies.
Authorities appeal to residents to remain calm and not panic. A ban on civil aviation has been introduced throughout the country for 48 hours. Airports have been closed and all flights canceled.