Poland Urges NATO To Consider No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine Amid Russian Drone Threats

Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has urged NATO allies to explore the possibility of establishing a restricted no-fly zone over Ukraine following multiple Russian drone violations of Polish airspace.

The suggestion follows an incident last Wednesday when Russian drones entered Poland, leading NATO jets and air defenses to intercept and neutralize them. Although the drones carried no weapons, the event sparked renewed worries about civilian safety near border regions. Firefighters were observed repairing homes in Wyryki, Poland, after debris from the downed drones caused property damage.

Speaking to Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine, Sikorski emphasized that NATO’s involvement would enhance protection for Polish territory and reduce dangers for civilians.
“Protection for our population – for example, from falling debris – would naturally be greater if we could combat drones and other flying objects beyond our national territory,” he explained.

He further noted that should Ukraine formally request support, NATO could evaluate intercepting drones within Ukrainian airspace.
“If you ask me personally, we should consider it,” Sikorski said.

The concept of a no-fly zone over Ukraine is not new. In 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky advocated for such measures at the onset of Russia’s invasion, but NATO members, including the U.S., rejected the idea due to concerns about direct confrontations with Russian combat aircraft that might escalate the conflict. Sikorski’s current proposal, however, seems more targeted, focusing specifically on drones nearing NATO borders.

Poland’s interior ministry reported that 16 drones were detected across the country during last week’s incursion. Polish and Dutch fighter jets, alongside Italian, German, and other NATO multinational forces, participated in the defensive response.

In reaction, NATO initiated “Eastern Sentry,” a collaborative mission to strengthen air defense over Poland. On Monday, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that Royal Air Force jets would contribute to the mission, underscoring Britain’s “unshakeable” commitment to safeguarding NATO territory.

The Russian defense ministry denied any intent to target Poland, asserting that its drones have a maximum range of 700 kilometers (435 miles) and were aimed solely at Ukrainian targets. Moscow claimed that any drones entering Poland did so accidentally or were technically incapable of such a breach based on their equipment’s specifications.

The issue extended beyond Poland. On Saturday, Romania scrambled fighter jets after a Russian drone violated its airspace, highlighting the increasing regional risks of drone warfare spilling over NATO borders.

Sikorski’s comments reflect NATO’s challenging task of balancing the protection of its member states with the need to avoid direct escalation with Moscow. Whether allies will support Poland’s proposal for a limited no-fly zone remains unclear, but recent events demonstrate that the Ukraine conflict is increasingly challenging NATO’s eastern defenses.

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Nnamdi Okoli