NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Alliance strengthens eastern flank with fighter jets, naval and ground defences following first-ever drone breaches amid wider regional escalations
NATO has initiated Operation Eastern Sentry in direct response to multiple Russian drones breaching Polish airspace, marking a significant escalation on Europe’s eastern frontier.
Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced the new mission amid growing concern over Russia’s “dangerous and unacceptable” aerial violations.
The operation will involve forces from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others, deploying assets ranging from warships to advanced fighter aircraft and enhanced ground-based air defences.
The incursion occurred overnight on September nine to ten, when between nineteen and twenty-three Russian drones entered Polish airspace from Belarusian or Russian territory.
Polish forces, supported by NATO allies, shot down at least eight of them.
Airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were temporarily closed during the operation.
Poland invoked Article Four of the North Atlantic Treaty, a consultative provision, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the incursion was not a mistake.
Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski described it as a historic violation of not only Poland’s territory but also NATO and European Union borders.
Russia denied intent and Belarus claimed some drones were off-course due to electronic interference.
Under Eastern Sentry, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, said the alliance will pursue a flexible, agile posture, strengthening both air and ground capabilities to address emerging threats along the eastern flank.
Contributing nations have pledged F-16s from Denmark, Rafale fighters from France, Eurofighter jets from Germany, and a Danish anti-air warfare frigate.
Although the operation puts immediate emphasis on Poland, Rutte stressed that the threat transcends national borders.
NATO aims to adjust its readiness continuously from northern Latvia to the Black Sea, reinforcing its ability to respond swiftly to any new incursions.
This is the first time NATO has shot down drones infringing a member’s airspace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It underlines both the growing frequency of such incidents and the pressure on the Alliance’s air-defence systems.
Eastern Sentry is modelled in part on the earlier Baltic Sentry mission, adopted this year in response to other regional provocations, and reflects NATO’s evolving strategy of blending deterrence with readiness.
Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced the new mission amid growing concern over Russia’s “dangerous and unacceptable” aerial violations.
The operation will involve forces from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others, deploying assets ranging from warships to advanced fighter aircraft and enhanced ground-based air defences.
The incursion occurred overnight on September nine to ten, when between nineteen and twenty-three Russian drones entered Polish airspace from Belarusian or Russian territory.
Polish forces, supported by NATO allies, shot down at least eight of them.
Airports in Warsaw, Rzeszów, and Lublin were temporarily closed during the operation.
Poland invoked Article Four of the North Atlantic Treaty, a consultative provision, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the incursion was not a mistake.
Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski described it as a historic violation of not only Poland’s territory but also NATO and European Union borders.
Russia denied intent and Belarus claimed some drones were off-course due to electronic interference.
Under Eastern Sentry, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, said the alliance will pursue a flexible, agile posture, strengthening both air and ground capabilities to address emerging threats along the eastern flank.
Contributing nations have pledged F-16s from Denmark, Rafale fighters from France, Eurofighter jets from Germany, and a Danish anti-air warfare frigate.
Although the operation puts immediate emphasis on Poland, Rutte stressed that the threat transcends national borders.
NATO aims to adjust its readiness continuously from northern Latvia to the Black Sea, reinforcing its ability to respond swiftly to any new incursions.
This is the first time NATO has shot down drones infringing a member’s airspace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It underlines both the growing frequency of such incidents and the pressure on the Alliance’s air-defence systems.
Eastern Sentry is modelled in part on the earlier Baltic Sentry mission, adopted this year in response to other regional provocations, and reflects NATO’s evolving strategy of blending deterrence with readiness.
