The United Kingdom announced that Typhoon fighter jets will take part in air defense missions over Poland to counter Russian threats, including drones, the British Ministry of Defense reported. The operations will begin"in the coming days."
The decision comes after an intense incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace last week: at least 19 unidentified objects crossed the Polish border during a Russian airstrike against Ukraine. Poland, with the support of NATO allies, shot down the dangerous drones.
Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary general, said the alliance would strengthen its defense of its eastern flank after the attack: “It is crucial to counter aggression and defend every member of the alliance.” Rutte made the comments as he announced the Eastern Sentry initiative, designed to strengthen that flank against Russian provocations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Russian behavior “reckless,” “a direct threat to European security,” and a violation of international law. He also said the fighter jets “are not just a show of force; they are vital to deterring aggression” and “protecting NATO airspace and UK national security.”
Spain will also announce contributions soon, according to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. In addition, SHAPE stated that Italy and Sweden have also expressed their support. Citing government sources, the Italian news agency ANSA reported that Italy intends to provide two Eurofighter aircraft.
Poland responded to the Russian incursion by invoking Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which requires consultation among members when one believes its security is threatened. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the incursion a “large-scale provocation.”
Romania suffered a similar situation : it reported a violation of its airspace by Russian drones, which generated a military and diplomatic alert.
One of the most worrying aspects is the deliberate nature of the incursions. Analysts estimate that the drones could have been used as decoys, to saturate defenses, or to test NATO's response. Not all of the drones were armed; some were of the"decoy" variety.
Poland also acknowledged that its SkyCTRL anti-drone system was virtually inactive due to modernization delays and budgetary delays that had left it ill-prepared for such an escalation.
Operation Eastern Sentry, launched on September 12, 2025, aims to more tightly coordinate NATO's eastern flank air defense by combining assets from several countries to detect, intercept, and deter Russian air threats.
The United Kingdom is not the only player: France and Germany have already committed to sending more fighters ; Denmark will also participate in the mission.
On Sunday, Ukraine touted its drone tactics as an economic model for NATO allies. The strategy appears designed to dent Moscow's revenues, impose costs beyond the direct military, and highlight the vulnerability of Russia's logistics apparatus.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared: “We are ready to train all our partners in defense against Russian drones.” He accompanied the offer with the statement that Russia “is studying how to extend the war to the territory of Poland and the Baltic states, and that the Russian military is also testing Romania.”
Russia, for its part, has responded by downplaying the incident. Through its press office, it has suggested that some violations could have been due to navigation errors or electronic interference, although it has not provided conclusive evidence.
The situation is worsening: NATO is facing a Russia that is not only acting in Ukraine, but is also beginning to blur its borders through air raids that undermine the sovereignty of member countries. The allies are no longer focused solely on the present, but also on the risk that these provocations will become a system. The United Kingdom and others are trying to reestablish a red line that will prevent aggression from becoming normalized.
