Poland has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following a violation of its airspace by suspected Russian drones. The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 10th, when Poland—backed by NATO allies—shot down several drones that entered its airspace.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski described the event as “an unprecedented Russian drone attack on a member of the UN, EU, and NATO.” Speaking to local radio, he announced
I have appeared before the UN [Security] Council in the past, and it seems to me that our arguments have been convincing.
Moscow has denied responsibility for the airspace breach. A senior Russian diplomat in Poland claimed the drones had come from the direction of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry stated that its drones were conducting a major attack on military facilities in western Ukraine and had no intention of striking targets in Poland.
This UN Security Council meeting follows Poland’s invocation of NATO Article 4. Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained in the Sejm that the “allied consultations I am referring to have now taken the form of a formal request to invoke Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.” Article 4 obliges NATO allies to consult whenever a member believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened, though it does not trigger military action.
Polish authorities also summoned Russia’s top envoy in Warsaw after downing the drones. Russia’s temporary chargé d’affaires in Poland, Andrei Ordash, confirmed to RIA Novosti that he had been summoned but noted that Polish officials had not yet presented any proof that the drones originated from Russia.
