Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday rejected speculation that the incursion into Polish airspace by around 20 Russian drones was accidental.
“We are identifying those who, whether for political reasons, stupidity or betrayal, serve Russian propaganda and disinformation. Our knowledge is clear, and responsibility lies with the Russian Federation for these events in Polish skies,” said Tusk.
His comments came after US President Donald Trump said the incident on September 10 may not have been deliberate.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, he said: “This may have been a mistake. But regardless, I am not happy at anything to do with this situation and hope it will end...”
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski also responded to Trump’s speculation.
“No, this was not a mistake,” wrote Sikorski on X.
It was Trump’s second public comment with regard to the incident. On September 10, he had made a terse comment on the situation writing: “Here we go …” on his Truth Social platform.
September 10 saw 21 Russian drones cross into Polish territory overnight during a large-scale strike on Ukraine.
Polish and allied aircraft tracked and intercepted the drones, the first time such Russian airborne objects had been shot down over NATO soil.
General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, revealed yesterday that Poland had received a warning from the Belarusian authorities that drones were approaching its territory and that helped the military deal with the situation.
Remains of 17 drones were recovered in locations in eastern and central Poland. The Polish defence ministry has confirmed none were armed.
Russia has denied responsibility.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, chairing a meeting of Poland’s National Security Council (RBN) yesterday, had no doubts either and called the drone incursion proof that Poland has been directly engaged in conflict with Russia for some time.
“If anyone had doubts that for four years, Poland has been directly engaged in a hybrid war, September 10, 2025, should dispel them,” he said at the meeting.
The RBN is consultative body that brings together senior figures including the prime minister, parliamentary leaders, defence and foreign ministers, military commanders and opposition representatives.
Nawrocki, who yesterday had a brief call with Trump during which he was assured of allied support described the attack as “a test of our resilience and our abilities,” one he believed Poland had passed thanks to unity across the political spectrum.
The Polish President also urged more investment in defence. “We must increase investment in air defence and missile defence, both in acquiring new systems and developing domestic technologies,” he said, adding that spending should rise to 5 per cent of GDP and citing Finland’s extensive shelter system as an example for Poland to follow.
Tusk maintained that, despite deep political divisions, the attack had forged national unity. Despite that, tensions resurfaced in parliament yesterday when the former defence minister Mariusz Błaszczak, who currently leads the opposition Conservatives (PiS) parliamentary caucus, queried whether the government had prepared adequately.
“Every drone that enters the territory of our country should be shot down,” said Błaszczak. He questioned why an anti-drone system was not, he claimed, deployed on Poland’s eastern border.
“There was no clear answer to the question why this system is not deployed on the Polish border. Why is it not being modernised? Unless it is because, as reported in today’s media, Germany is seeking to supply Poland with an anti-drone system,” he said.
“One must not create the impression for the public that we should get used to drones entering the territory of our country,” added Błaszczak.
He also reminded the government about how, when in opposition, Tusk’s party had reacted to a Russian rocket flying into Polish airspace in 2023.
“You demanded my resignation back when there was a war beyond our eastern border, correct? That is how it was.
“And this is also the difference in approach to State affairs that today we are standing behind you rather than undermining you,” concluded Błaszczak.
Poland has reacted to Belarus and Russia holding the Zapad 2025 joint military exercises by closing its border with Belarus.
Today it announced that the border will not be reopened until the government is satisfied that doing so carried no security risks to the country.
Meanwhile, European states made declarations of support to Poland, bolstering its air defences.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would send three Rafale fighter jets.
Poland’s current defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz suggested that the UK was likely to deploy some of its Eurofighter Typhoons to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, while the Czech Republic is sending a unit of helicopters and up to 150 military personnel.
