The response from the U.S. came hours after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the country’s airspace was “violated by a huge number of Russian drones” on Tuesday night and any drones that “posed a direct threat” were shot down. The incident marked the first time a NATO member has opened fire during the Ukraine war.

On Friday, Russia and Belarus are set to begin their joint military exercises. Poland announced earlier this week that it will shut down its border with Belarus during the Zapad-2025 drills, calling them “very aggressive”.

Alicja and Tomasz Wesolowski from Wyryki, whose house was destroyed after Russian drones violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine, with some being shot down by Poland with the backing from its NATO allies, talk to Reuters outside their house, in Wyryki, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel