Russian Drones Spark Nato Alert as Jets Scramble to Defend Polish Skies

Russian Drone Incursion into Poland Tests Nato Resolve Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Russian drones entered Polish airspace 19 times on Wednesday morning, prompting jets to be scrambled and an emergency government meeting. At least three drones were shot down by Warsaw's jets, aided by Dutch F-35s and an Italian early warning aircraft. Timeline of Events: 02:00 AM local time: Russian drones enter Polish airspace 03:00 AM: Jets are scrambled to intercept the drones 04:00 AM: Emergency government meeting is called Immediate Impact and Response: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that "Polish airspace was violated 19 times" and that the country's military responded swiftly. European officials have dismissed suggestions that the incursion may have been unintentional, with Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius saying there is "no evidence whatsoever" of an accidental entry. Background Context: The incident has raised concerns about Nato's resolve against Russia, with Poland being one of the closest countries to open conflict since World War Two. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other issues. What Happens Next: Nato officials have convened an emergency meeting to discuss the incident and its implications for regional security. The alliance's Secretary-General has urged calm but emphasized that Nato will not tolerate any violations of member states' airspace. Russia has yet to comment on the specifics of the incident, but has pushed back against accusations of a deliberate incursion. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Bbc reporting.*