Poland's Military Was Ready to Shoot Down Russian Drone That Fell Near Border

On September 17, a Russian attack drone fell near the Polish-Ukrainian border in Ukraine's Volyn Oblast, prompting Poland to reveal the full extent of its air defense protocols. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the incident, stating the drone crashed approximately 4 km from the Polish border.

Pre-Authorized Shoot-Down Order

Deputy Defense Minister Czeslaw Tomczyk told journalists in the Polish parliament that Poland's operational commander had issued an order to shoot down the drone if it crossed into Polish territory. "We were not only ready, but the operational commander had issued an order to shoot down if the border was crossed," Tomczyk stated.

He explained that this is a pre-authorized order, meaning that fighter pilots do not need to check with the operational commander before acting. Once a threat is detected within range, the pilot can engage automatically. Tomczyk stressed that visual identification remains mandatory in peacetime to avoid the risk of accidentally shooting down a civilian aircraft.

Poland Increases Air Force Activity

Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that Poland is stepping up its air force activities in response to Russian provocations near the border. This is the second consecutive day that Polish airports temporarily suspended operations due to Russian drone activity in Ukraine.