News Feed

Russian drones targeted Poland's Rzeszow Airport, key aid hub for Ukraine, media reports

3 min read
Russian drones targeted Poland's Rzeszow Airport, key aid hub for Ukraine, media reports
Bundeswehr soldiers guard the Patriot air defense system in Rzeszow, Poland. With two Patriot systems, the Bundeswehr is protecting NATO's eastern flank with the logistics chain for supplying Ukraine. (Kay Nietfeld/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

Russian drones shot down over Poland were reportedly headed for Rzeszow Airport, a key logistics hub for aid to Ukraine, German media outlets Spiegel and Welt reported on Sept. 11.

Poland confirmed downing Russian drones in its airspace overnight on Sept. 10, marking the first time NATO engaged Moscow's military assets over its territory during the full-scale war in Ukraine.

At least 19 drones entered the Polish airspace, and between three and four were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft in what Warsaw denounced as a deliberate provocation by Russia.

According to Spiegel, at least five drones targeted the airport near the Polish-Ukrainian border, where two German Patriot air defense systems are stationed.

Dutch F-35 fighter jets were scrambled after an air raid alert and intercepted the drones, shooting down at least three. The remaining two crashed for unknown reasons, Welt reported.

On the night of the large-scale attack, Russian drones not only entered Polish airspace but also violated Lithuanian airspace, according to Welt.

NATO’s response to Russian drones reveals glaring issue with Europe’s air defenses
NATO’s downing of Russian drones in Polish airspace this week was touted as a major success by the military alliance, after it mustered an international force using some of the most advanced technology in the world to defend its borders. But the incident has actually highlighted a major flaw in NATO and Europe’s defenses — they don’t have an effective way to shoot down Russia’s cheap, mass produced drones. “Given the increasing mass deployment of loitering munitions and relatively inexpensive
Article image

"Based on the available information, we believe the drones most likely entered NATO airspace deliberately," a senior NATO official told Welt.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed this statement, saying that the Russian drones were deliberately directed along this route, Spiegel reported.

"They did not need to fly this way to reach Ukraine. There is no evidence that these drones accidentally flew over Polish territory in such large numbers on this route," Pistorius said, adding that this could be a deliberate operation.

The Rzeszow-Jasionka airport is located less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Ukrainian border and transports a significant percentage of Western materiel bound for the front lines in Ukraine. It is also a main stopover point for foreign leadership traveling to Kyiv on official visits.

Russian drones have entered several NATO countries’ airspace. Far more may be within their range
The latest massive aerial attack on Ukraine hit a new milestone in the continuing escalation of Russian bombardments, after Poland announced that it had closed airports and downed Russian drones in its airspace overnight on Sept. 10. “Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X, adding that those “that posed a direct threat were shot down.” As Russia continues to improve its drones — which Ukrainian intelligence h
Article image
News Feed
Video

The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy sits down with Nate Vance on the sidelines of the Warsaw Security Forum to discuss his experience fighting for Ukraine as a volunteer soldier, his view of the Russian military’s strengths and vulnerabilities, and Moscow’s provocations against NATO.

Show More