Warsaw insists it can protect its skies after recent Russian incursions.

Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, has rejected President Volodymyr Zelensky’s suggestion that Poland could not shield its population from a large-scale Russian drone attack, describing the comments as unnecessary and inaccurate. He told Polish media he was confident in Poland’s capability to defend its airspace.

Zelensky, speaking to Sky News, had contrasted Ukraine’s recent interception of more than 700 out of 810 attacking drones with Poland’s response to around 19 drones, of which four were destroyed. He argued Poland was not at war and therefore less prepared to repel a mass strike.

Poland and NATO allies scrambled jets during last week’s incursions, using missiles to down some drones, while others deemed non-threatening were not engaged. This week, officials acknowledged that a house destroyed in eastern Poland was likely hit by a missile fired from a Polish F-16 targeting a Russian drone. Security services minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that was the probable cause, while he and Prime Minister Donald Tusk maintained Russia bears responsibility for the incident.

In response to the incursions, NATO launched the Eastern Sentry mission to reinforce air defences in Poland, with France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic pledging assets.

Zelensky said Ukraine stands ready to help allies improve counter-drone defences. Kosiniak-Kamysz announced an unpublicised trip to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal and the signing of an agreement covering training in drone operations.

Source: Notes from Poland.