In the early hours of 10 September 2025, Poland woke up to one of the most serious escalations of the conflict so far. Russia launched a massive drone strike, with some drones also entering Polish airspace from Belarus. The Polish military scrambled quickly, intercepting and shooting down several of them, but the attack still caused major disruption on the ground.
Airports forced to shut down
With drones flying dangerously close to civilian areas, authorities had no choice but to temporarily shut down multiple airports, including Warsaw Chopin, Warsaw Modlin, Lublin, and Rzeszów. The fallout was immediate—flights were cancelled or diverted across Europe. One Air China flight from Beijing to Warsaw, for instance, had to land in Copenhagen instead. Travelers were left stranded, and governments like the UK issued advisories telling passengers to brace for delays and keep checking updates.
NATO alarm bells
Poland, a NATO member, quickly invoked Article 4 of the treaty, which allows allies to consult each other when a member’s security is threatened. The move signalled how seriously Warsaw views the situation. In Washington, U.S. officials stressed their commitment to defend “every inch of NATO territory,” underlining that the alliance stands united.
Strong global reactions
The attack drew sharp criticism worldwide. U.S. President Donald Trump reacted bluntly on social media, asking: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” Meanwhile, the European Union called the strike a “reckless” violation of international norms and promised support for Poland’s sovereignty.
What’s next?
Polish authorities are now reassessing defence strategies with their NATO partners to prevent further breaches. For travellers, the advice is simple: if you’re flying through Poland, double-check your airline’s latest guidance before heading to the airport.
The episode highlights just how vulnerable modern airspace can be in times of conflict—and how quickly military action can spill over into the daily lives of ordinary people.
Video Partner: DW
