Poland and NATO scrambled jets after Russia’s massive overnight strikes on Ukraine, as Estonia triggered NATO talks following unprecedented airspace violations by Russian MiG-31s.
Polish and NATO aircraft were scrambled in the early hours of Saturday after Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults in months against Ukraine, with strikes extending dangerously close to the Polish border. The development underscores rising tensions on Europe’s eastern flank and has put NATO forces on heightened alert amid a series of airspace violations by Moscow.
According to Poland’s armed forces, the nation’s air defence units and allied fighter jets reached maximum readiness as Russia unleashed a night of relentless attacks. “Due to the activity of the Russian Federation’s long-range aviation, which is carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace,” the Polish military announced in a statement on X. Duty fighter pairs were dispatched, while radiolocation reconnaissance and ground-based systems were placed on full alert.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Moscow deployed a staggering 579 attack drones, including decoys, alongside eight ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that civilian targets were once again at the heart of Russia’s offensive. “All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia. Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure. That is why a strong international response is needed,” Zelensky said.
Regional authorities in Ukraine confirmed at least eight deaths and 32 injuries as a result of the bombardment, with critical infrastructure, residential buildings and energy facilities hit in multiple regions.
The overnight escalation came just hours after NATO fighter jets intercepted three Russian MiG-31 aircraft that breached Estonian airspace. Tallinn labelled the incident “unprecedentedly brazen,” citing the aircraft’s lack of transponders and absence of flight plans, which placed other civil aviation at risk. Italian F-35 jets stationed in Estonia under NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission responded, supported by Swedish and Finnish aircraft. Moscow, however, denied violating Estonian airspace, claiming its flights were conducted within international regulations.
Estonia has now triggered NATO’s Article 4 consultations, a mechanism permitting any member state to raise security threats to the alliance. A special meeting is scheduled early next week in Brussels to discuss the security environment.
This is not the first time Russian aggression has spilled into NATO territory. Earlier this month, drones from Moscow briefly crossed into Polish and Romanian airspace, forcing the alliance to bolster eastern defences. In a particularly significant incident, NATO jets shot down Russian drones that had crossed into Poland during a wave of strikes on Ukraine — marking the first time the alliance had fired weapons since the start of the war in February 2022. NATO officials condemned Moscow’s repeated violations as “absolutely dangerous” and destabilising for European security.
The latest escalation comes amid faltering peace negotiations. While Kyiv continues to call for a tougher international stance against Russia, its Western allies are exploring long-term security guarantees. President Zelensky is expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York next week to review whether such guarantees can be formalised. Trump’s efforts to bring Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to a joint summit have so far failed, leaving uncertainty over the prospects for meaningful talks.
For now, the skies above Eastern Europe remain a flashpoint, with Russia’s aggression pushing NATO into an increasingly active role in safeguarding the security of its members and supporting Ukraine’s defence.
