Shoot them down......

NATO chief Rutte sends warning to Russia after drone swarm alarms Poland

“Know that we stand ready, that we are vigilant and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory,” says secretary-general.

By Victor Jack

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday condemned Moscow after several of its drones were shot down in Polish airspace, warning Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the transatlantic alliance was "ready" for further incursions.

While the military alliance chief said "a full assessment of the incident" was still ongoing to determine whether the attack was intentional, "what is clear is that a violation last night is not an isolated incident."

"Our air defenses are continually at the ready," Rutte told reporters in Brussels, after fighter jets shot down the Russian swarm. "My message is clear: stop the war in Ukraine ... stop violating allied airspace, and know that we stand ready, that we are vigilant and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory."

In the early hours of Wednesday, Warsaw shot down the drones with the backing of NATO allies after it detected 19 objects entering its territory overnight. No one was injured in the incident.

Rutte praised the “very successful” operation, which he said involved Polish and Dutch fighter jets, Italian surveillance aircraft and German Patriot air defense systems. 

Following the incident, Poland called for emergency consultations with NATO allies — invoking the alliance's so-called Article 4 clause. Rutte said NATO's 32 members had “expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's reckless behavior.” 

Warsaw’s armed forces said they remained in “constant contact” with NATO’s top military commander, U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich.

Oana Lungescu, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank and former NATO spokesperson, said the incident showed that "if Moscow wanted to test NATO defenses, it has found that NATO was ready."

"But at a time when Russia is taking increasingly reckless action, words need to be backed up by more air and missile defense capabilities across the eastern flank," she added.

Moscow has so far declined to comment on the incident, though Russia’s top diplomat in Poland said allegations that the drones were from Russia were “groundless.” 

While the incursion marks the first time a NATO ally has fired shots in Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, countries like Romania have previously sent warplanes to monitor drones approaching the alliance's territory.