WARSAW, Poland — Poland reported on Wednesday that it shot down multiple Russian drones that entered its airspace during a series of Russian strikes on Ukraine. The Polish government characterized the drone incursions as an “act of aggression.” NATO allies assisted in the response, marking a significant escalation in tensions in the region.

The incident occurred just three days after Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the conflict began, which included strikes on key infrastructure in Kyiv. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, “Russia’s war is escalating, not ending,” and described the airspace violation as the most serious since the war began.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that 19 violations were recorded over a span of seven hours, with the first drone entering Polish airspace around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and the last around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. Tusk noted that this was the first time drones had come from Belarus, indicating a new level of threat.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that more than ten objects crossed into Polish airspace, but did not provide an exact count. He expressed gratitude to NATO Air Command and the Royal Netherlands Air Force for their support, which included the deployment of Dutch F-35 fighter jets.

The Polish military stated on social media that the drones posed a direct threat to citizens. A government spokesperson confirmed that eight crash sites had been located, with drones found in seven locations. In one instance, a house in the village of Wyryki was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

In response to the violations, Poland temporarily closed parts of its airspace, leading to the suspension of flights at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport. NATO officials convened to discuss the situation, with Col. Martin O’Donnell stating that this was the first time NATO planes had engaged potential threats in allied airspace.

NATO’s commitment to defend its territory was reiterated, with German Patriot defense systems placed on alert and additional support from Italian airborne early warning planes. Leaders from the Baltic states expressed heightened concerns over Russian aggression, with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda emphasizing the growing threat to Europe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the drone incursions an “extremely dangerous precedent for Europe,” urging a strong response to Russian actions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 415 strike and decoy drones, along with 42 cruise missiles and one ballistic missile overnight. Ukrainian defenses intercepted or jammed 386 drones and 27 cruise missiles. The ongoing conflict has resulted in casualties and damage across various regions in Ukraine, with reports of injuries and destruction of infrastructure.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it had destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones in various regions, including areas over the Black Sea and Crimea. The situation remains tense as NATO and European leaders continue to monitor developments.