NATO launches 'Eastern Sentry' after Russian drones violate Polish airspace; U.S. vows to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory
NATO has launched Operation Eastern Sentry to bolster eastern air defenses — initially in Poland — after roughly 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, with three shot down, debris and parts recovered across eastern Poland and some drones tracked from Belarus, prompting immediate deployments including Polish F‑16s, Dutch F‑35s, German Patriot batteries and an Italian AWACS plus pledges of forces from several allies. The U.S. vowed to defend “every inch” of NATO territory, the UK summoned Russia’s ambassador, Poland requested a U.N. Security Council meeting, and Warsaw and Kyiv agreed to deepen cooperation on counter‑drone efforts as allies warned further incursions would be met with force.
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📊 Analysis & Commentary (4)
The Good Fight Club: Russian Drones in Poland, Low Literacy in Schools, and Can Anyone Rein in Trump?
"The column argues NATO’s Eastern Sentry response to Russian drones breaching Polish airspace must be firm yet restrained to deter future provocations, while also flagging broader domestic concerns like declining literacy and weak institutional checks on Trump."
Putin’s Polish Drone Incursion and the China Factor
"The column argues NATO should treat Russia’s drone incursions into Poland as deliberate probes enabled by Moscow’s ties to China, criticizing Western tendencies to minimize suspicious Russia-linked events and urging a firmer, clearer deterrent response."
Russia’s Drone Attack Is an Opening for U.S.-India Repair
"Bolton argues NATO must answer Russia’s drone breach of Polish airspace with resolve and the U.S. should repair tariff‑strained ties with India to deter both Moscow and Beijing."
Diversity in Poland: The Blind
"An opinion piece arguing that NATO's focus on defending Poland and the security stresses on Eastern Europe expose Western blind spots about the tradeoffs of rapid demographic diversity, praising Poland's cohesion and criticizing pro‑diversity orthodoxies."
📰 Sources (10)
Russia dares NATO to shoot
New information:
- President Trump publicly said he supports shooting down Russian aircraft if incursions continue — a notable shift in U.S. rhetoric/policy posture.
- The Kremlin replied that shooting down a Russian jet would lead to war — an explicit escalation in official Russian rhetoric.
- Hardline Russian official Dmitry Medvedev issued a nuclear‑style warning aimed at Ukraine and the U.S.
- Reporting ties a sequence of recent incursions (Sept. 9–10, Sept. 13, Sept. 19) together and notes Denmark airport closures after drone swarms and a recent U.S. interception near Alaska described as the ninth this year.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly urged NATO to shoot down intruding aircraft, aligning with Trump's comments.
How Europe can defend itself against Russian drones and electronic warfare
New information:
- Adds granular, on-the-ground defense planning from Baltic officials: Estonia is extending a border fence and building anti-tank ditches and bunkers.
- Provides counts and operational detail: about 20 Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace and many went undetected by existing radar systems.
- Quotes Baltic leaders and defense-industry figures stressing procurement problems and the need for low-cost, mass-producible counter-drone systems (including mention of Frankenburg Technologies developing low-cost anti-drone missiles).
Emmanuel Macron on U.S. role as NATO scrambles jets to repel Russia incursions
New information:
- CBS reports the United States is not participating in NATO's ongoing Operation Eastern Sentry.
- Three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace; NATO scrambled Italian, Swedish and Finnish aircraft to repel them.
- The segment features Emmanuel Macron being asked about the U.S. role in Eastern Sentry in a Face the Nation interview.
Poland turns to Ukraine for drone warfare expertise after Russian weapons enter airspace
New information:
- Ukraine and Poland signed a memorandum in Kyiv to create a joint working group on uncrewed systems, including joint testing of drone interceptions, experience exchange, and force compatibility efforts.
- Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski reported increased Belarusian and Russian drone attempts to cross into Polish airspace the previous night; none succeeded, and Poland will keep the border closed until further notice.
- Ukraine’s air force said it downed or jammed 48 of 75 Russian drones overnight, and President Zelenskyy claimed a recent counteroffensive in Donetsk retook ~160 sq km and seven settlements with nearly 100 Russians captured.
U.K. summons Russian ambassador over ‘unprecedented’ violation of NATO airspace
New information:
- The U.K. Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin in London over what it called an 'unprecedented' and 'utterly unacceptable' violation of NATO airspace.
- Britain warned that any further incursions 'will again be met with force' and reaffirmed solidarity with Poland, Romania and NATO allies.
- Romania said it deployed two F‑16s on Saturday to intercept a drone that briefly entered its airspace and noted it did not pass over inhabited areas or pose an imminent public danger.
U.S. says it will defend 'every inch' of NATO territory after Poland shoots down Russian drones
New information:
- The U.S. publicly stated it will defend 'every inch' of NATO territory after Poland shot down Russian drones.
- The statement was framed as a response to the recent airspace violations and Poland’s defensive actions.
- Poland shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during attacks on Ukraine.
- The U.S. affirmed it will 'defend every inch' of NATO territory in response.
NATO Steps Up Defenses After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
New information:
- NATO’s new operation is named Eastern Sentry, initially focused on Poland but movable across the region.
- Britain, Denmark, France and Germany pledged forces/equipment for Eastern Sentry; deployment begins immediately.
- Specific assets involved: Polish F‑16s, Dutch F‑35s, German Patriot air defenses and an Italian AWACS surveillance aircraft.
- About 20 Russian drones entered Poland; three were shot down and others crashed near eastern Polish villages.
- NATO calls this the first direct engagement of its troops with Russian weaponry since 2022.
- NATO Sec-Gen Mark Rutte said drones have also violated the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.
- Some drones entered from Belarus; Belarus claims it warned Warsaw and seeks to distance itself amid joint drills with Russia.
- The drones, nicknamed 'Gerbera,' are cheap plywood/Styrofoam aircraft, raising cost‑asymmetry concerns.
- UN Security Council to meet Friday to discuss the Polish airspace violation.
- Ukraine’s Zelensky urged a NATO 'response'; Finland’s President Stubb suggested providing Ukraine long‑range weapons to hit Russian drone factories.
- U.S. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich (NATO’s top military commander) said the scale was larger than prior incursions and more resources will be brought to bear, including counter‑drone tech.
- Operation Eastern Sentry launched to bolster NATO’s eastern air defenses, initially in Poland.
- Around 20 Russian drones entered Poland; three shot down; debris/crashes reported in the east.
- Assets: Polish F‑16s, Dutch F‑35s, German Patriot batteries, Italian AWACS; UK/Denmark/France/Germany pledges.
- NATO labels it first direct engagement with Russian weaponry since 2022; UNSC meeting set.
- Rutte cites similar drone airspace violations in the Baltics and Romania; some drones came via Belarus.
Poland rejects Trump's suggestion Russian drone raid a possible mistake
New information:
- Poland recovered parts of 17 Russian-made drones that fell in eastern Poland on Wednesday.
- NATO fighter jets from the Netherlands were scrambled to intercept—described as the first such response to Russian aerial incursions into NATO airspace since the 2022 invasion.
- Polish PM Donald Tusk, President Karol Nawrocki, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski rejected President Trump’s suggestion the incursion could have been a mistake.
- Sikorski said that on the same night, 400+ drones and 40 missiles crossed into Ukraine, arguing the Polish incursions were not accidental.
- President Trump told reporters the incursion 'could have been a mistake' and posted about it on Truth Social; the White House offered no clarification.
- U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated the U.S. stands by NATO allies against these violations.
- Poland requested a UN Security Council meeting set for Friday afternoon.
- 17 Russian-made drone parts recovered in eastern Poland; no injuries or major damage.
- Dutch/NATO jets scrambled—first such intercept response since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Watch: 'Looks like a toy, but it's real': BBC examines a downed Russian drone
New information:
- BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford examines a downed Russian drone of the same type that entered Poland, describing its toy-like appearance and why it poses a major challenge for Ukraine’s territorial defense forces.
- Reiterates that at least three Russian drones were shot down in Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, citing Poland’s prime minister.
- At least three Russian drones were shot down in Poland’s airspace on Wednesday during attacks on Ukraine.
- BBC footage and analysis detail the specific drone type’s characteristics and why it is difficult for Ukraine’s territorial defense to counter.
Nato strengthens defences after Russian drones shot down over Poland
New information:
- Three Russian drones were shot down after entering Polish airspace early Wednesday; other drones crashed across eastern Poland.
- Netherlands to deploy air defenses, artillery and 300 troops; Czech Republic sending helicopters and 100 soldiers; France sending three Rafale jets; Germany expanding air policing.
- Poland requested a UN Security Council session for Friday 19:00 GMT; Poland will restrict drone/small air traffic near its eastern borders; Latvia is closing eastern airspace for a week.