Poland Vows Military Modernisation After 19 Russian Drone Incursions; NATO Slams Moscow

Poland is reeling from an unprecedented drone incursion that its military says involved Gerbera unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cheap long-range drones assembled in Russia with parts from China. The incident on Wednesday forced temporary airport closures in Warsaw and other cities, triggered air defence responses by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces, and left European leaders grappling with what they described as a deliberate provocation.

The confrontation, which saw at least 19 drones enter Polish airspace overnight from Belarus, has reignited fears over Russia’s willingness to push the boundaries of NATO’s red lines. It has also sharpened calls from Kyiv for a coordinated European air defence shield, as Moscow steps up attacks on Ukraine’s western border regions.

What drones were used in the incursion?

Polish military officials said part of the attack involved Russia’s Gerbera UAVs, drones that Ukrainian intelligence says are built in Yelabuga from Chinese kits and equipped either as decoys, reconnaissance tools, or flying bombs. Made of plywood and foam, with a rear propeller, they resemble the Shahed drones supplied by Iran.

Ukrainian officials claim smuggled Western-made electronic components have been found inside Gerberas despite export restrictions. China denies any role in supplying Russia for the war, but such shipments have been repeatedly documented by Ukrainian and Western intelligence.

How did NATO and European leaders respond?

NATO described the incident as a “deliberate provocation” and said its secretary general, Mark Rutte, was in close consultation with Polish leaders. German defence minister Boris Pistorius told lawmakers that the drones had been “clearly set on this course” to enter Poland, dismissing suggestions of navigational error.

European Council president Antonio Costa expressed “complete solidarity” with Poland, while Polish prime minister Donald Tusk pledged to push forward with a “great modernisation programme” for his country’s armed forces. Poland has since imposed new air traffic restrictions along its borders with Belarus and Ukraine at the request of the army.

United States (US) president Donald Trump, by contrast, limited his response to a short social media post — “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” — a comment that fell short of the sharp condemnations issued in European capitals.

What was Ukraine’s reaction?

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Western governments for failing to act decisively after repeated violations of NATO territory. “There have been more than enough statements, but so far there has been a lack of action,” he said in his daily address. He warned that Russia was “testing the limits” of NATO responses and urged European governments to work with Ukraine to build a joint air defence system.

Zelenskyy linked the timing of the incursions to joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises, suggesting they may be part of Moscow’s rehearsal for further aggression. He argued that only “joint European forces” could prevent future incidents on a larger scale.