Czech helicopters have landed in Poland to bolster defenses against Russian drones, in a move that delivers a powerful display of NATO unity following Russia’s breach of Polish airspace.
Several European countries have pledged to send additional weapons to strengthen Poland’s defenses after NATO forces shot down multiple Russian drones during an unprecedented large-scale airspace incursion on Wednesday.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the incident was “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II,” as Western jets engaged directly with Russian targets for the first time during the three-year war in neighboring Ukraine.
Following the incident, which Polish and many European leaders have described as a “deliberate provocation by Moscow” aimed at testing NATO’s capabilities, the Czech Republic announced it would send a special operations unit of Mi-171S helicopters to Poland.
Prague’s top general said up to 150 soldiers would accompany the three helicopters on a mission lasting three months.
On Saturday, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed the helicopters and soldiers had arrived.
🇨🇿🤝🇵🇱 #EASTERNSENTRY: Właśnie wylądowali w Polsce żołnierze @ArmadaCR
— Sztab Generalny WP (@SztabGenWP) September 13, 2025
To dowód, że solidarność sojuszniczą, bezpieczeństwo i przyjaźń buduje się ramię w ramię.
Witamy Przyjaciele! ✈️🇵🇱🇨🇿#WeAreNATO #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/bKD6crjEDG
“Soldiers from the Czech Republic have just landed in Poland. This is proof that allied solidarity, security, and friendship are built shoulder to shoulder,” it said in a statement on social media platform X.
Modernized in 2009, the Mi-171Š helicopters are among the most advanced of their type in NATO. Despite gradual replacement with Western models, they are expected to remain in service at least until 2030.
On Friday, NATO also announced a new Eastern Sentry operation, aimed at shoring up the alliance’s eastern flank in response to the recent Russian airspace violation.
