Poland moves to empower military to shoot down Russian drones over Ukraine without NATO approval

Poland is pursuing a legal change to allow its military to down Russian drones over Ukraine without NATO or European Union approval, a move the government frames as increasing flexibility to respond to threats. The defence ministry submitted the proposed legislation in June and the application has been fast-tracked after multiple Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace earlier this month. The plan comes as Moscow has stepped up drone activity and as NATO forces were required to scramble fighter jets in response to incursions along Europe’s eastern flank.

Under current law, the president was originally able to authorize deployments, but in 2022—one day before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine—the policy was amended so that Polish forces could operate only with EU and NATO approval. Polish authorities said some of the drones earlier this month came from Belarus. It comes after Russian drones invaded Polish airspace earlier this month and prompted comments from Warsaw about acting decisively to defend its territory. Poland said 19 airspace violations were recorded over seven hours, though the final count was still being compiled. Polish authorities said nine crash sites were found, with some hundreds of kilometers from the border. There are definitely no grounds to suspect that this was a course correction mistake or the like, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told parliament. These drones were very clearly put on this course deliberately. Dutch fighter jets came to Poland's aid and intercepted some drones. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski later thanked the Dutch government for the magnificent performance of Dutch pilots in neutralizing the drones. It also comes after Estonia's airspace was violated by three Russian fighter jets on Friday. Tusk also said earlier this week that his nation will not hesitate to shoot down objects that violate its airspace, adding to a sense among NATO leaders that Moscow is testing the alliance's readiness and resolve, with some urging a firm response. We will take the decision to shoot down flying objects when they violate our territory and fly over Poland – there is absolutely no discussion about that, he told a news conference, adding that Poland will take a more cautious approach to situations that are less clear-cut. When we're dealing with situations that aren't entirely clear, such as the recent flight of Russian fighter jets over the Petrobaltic platform—but without any violation, because these aren't our territorial waters—you really need to think twice before deciding on actions that could trigger a very acute phase of conflict, he added. Tusk said that he would also need to be certain that Poland would not be alone if a conflict started to escalate. I also need to be absolutely certain... that all allies will treat this in exactly the same way as we do, he said.

The move follows a broader pattern of tensions between Moscow and the West, with NATO forced to respond to drones and aircraft crossing into European airspace. Officials have described the incidents as a test of alliance unity and readiness at a moment when peace efforts have stalled and Russian strikes have intensified. NATO has emphasized that collective defense remains a core principle, even as individual countries consider how best to protect their own airspace and border regions.

The discourse in Warsaw underscores a broader debate within Europe about autonomy and alliance obligations. Polish officials say the proposed policy is about rapid response to clear threats, not unilateral escalation, while critics argue that unilateral action could complicate NATO's unified approach to airspace management and crisis escalation. In recent months, Polish authorities have cited concerns about interim gaps between detecting a threat and obtaining multinational authorization, especially when drones breach territory quickly and without warning. They stress that the new rule would apply specifically to drones operating over Ukraine, where Warsaw maintains it would be acting in defense of its airspace and aligned with allied security commitments. The government leaves open how Poland would coordinate with Kyiv in the event of a drone attack that targets Ukrainian territory and potential spillover into Polish airspace. The proposal also raises questions about sovereignty, liability, and the rules of engagement in a region where cross-border threats have become more frequent and less predictable.

Budgets, doctrine, and alliance politics are all in play as Poland forges ahead with the draft. The government argues that a more flexible, shoot-first policy could deter future incursions and reduce the time needed to respond to detected threats. Critics, however, warn that such a framework could provoke a disproportionate reaction, risk miscalculation, or pull Poland and potentially its NATO allies deeper into a conflict. Allies in Brussels and Washington have urged caution and stressed the importance of maintaining a unified stance on airspace violations and the use of force. As the debate unfolds, Poland continues to stress that its actions will be taken within the bounds of international law and alliance commitments, while underscoring its readiness to act decisively in defense of its territory and its neighbors. The balance between national sovereignty and alliance unity remains a defining challenge for Warsaw and for the broader transatlantic alliance as Russia pursues a more aggressive posture across the region.