In the wake of a dramatic escalation in Russian drone incursions, NATO has launched its most robust air defense operation in years across Eastern Europe, signaling both unity and unease within the alliance. The mission, dubbed Operation Eastern Sentry, comes after a series of deliberate airspace violations over Poland and Romania, incidents that have pushed the region to the edge of a broader confrontation.
On the night of September 9 to 10, 2025, approximately 20 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles crossed into Polish airspace, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine. Warsaw swiftly deemed the intrusion a calculated provocation, summoning the Russian ambassador and condemning the act as "totally unacceptable." The United Kingdom and Norway joined in this rebuke, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Romania, too, reported drones lingering in its skies for over 50 minutes before returning to Ukraine, highlighting a pattern of escalating Russian actions along NATO's eastern border.
These incidents prompted Poland to invoke Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, a rarely used provision allowing member states to raise security concerns for urgent consultation. While Article 4 does not mandate collective military action, it does put the alliance on high alert. As The National Interest points out, only Article 5—the famed mutual defense clause—would trigger a unified military response, something not seen since the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
The seriousness of the threat became even more apparent as NATO scrambled its first jet under Eastern Sentry: a French Rafale fighter, deployed alongside a Polish helicopter on September 13 to counter a possible drone threat. According to Newsweek, this marked a clear shift in NATO’s posture, with Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, and other allies contributing fighter jets, helicopters, and naval assets to the multinational effort.
Germany doubled its Eurofighter presence in Poland from two to four aircraft, integrating advanced surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities. France, meanwhile, made a politically charged move by deploying three Rafale B fighters from its Strategic Air Forces—jets certified to carry nuclear weapons—to Mińsk Mazowiecki Air Base, just 115 kilometers from the Belarusian border. Although the Rafales arrived without nuclear warheads, their mere presence sent a powerful message to Moscow and stoked fears of escalation. As French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed, these jets are there to defend the eastern flank and deter further aggression.
The United Kingdom also stepped up, with the Ministry of Defence confirming on September 15 that Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters had deployed to Poland, supported by Voyager air tankers. These Typhoons, operating out of RAF Coningsby, began air defense patrols on September 16, ready to intercept any suspicious activity near Polish airspace at a moment’s notice. British Secretary of State for Defence John Healy was unequivocal: “Russia crossed a line with the reckless drone incursions into NATO airspace. The UK will fly Royal Air Force Typhoons on NATO air defence missions over Poland, deterring Russian aggression.”
Such deployments are not just for show. The Eurofighter Typhoon, a multirole jet capable of speeds up to Mach 1.8 and carrying nearly 20,000 pounds of munitions, is designed for both air superiority and strategic strikes. The presence of these and other NATO aircraft, including Danish and German fighters, is meant to reassure frontline allies and deter further Russian adventurism. As Prime Minister Keir Starmer put it, “Russia's reckless behavior is a direct threat to European security and a violation of international law. These aircraft are not just a show of force—they are vital for deterring aggression.”
Yet, the situation remains tense and unpredictable. Russia, for its part, has responded with saber-rattling rhetoric and further military exercises. The Zapad 2025 drills, staged close to the Polish border with Belarus, included a simulated nuclear strike—a clear signal of Moscow’s willingness to escalate. Meanwhile, Russian state media figures like Vladimir Solovyov have taken to the airwaves with threats, warning British RAF pilots that “the British want to die, so they also want [like the French] to take a walk over the skies of Poland.” Solovyov also falsely claimed that France might be sending nuclear missiles to Poland, though photographic evidence confirmed the Rafales arrived unarmed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov went further, declaring, “NATO is at war with Russia. This is obvious and requires no further proof.”
Against this backdrop, Poland has called for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, a move Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski argues would “better shield NATO members by intercepting threats before they crossed into allied territory.” However, such a proposal is deeply divisive within the alliance. Analysts warn that enforcing a no-fly zone would require direct confrontation with Russian aircraft and air defenses in both Russia and Belarus, dramatically increasing the risk of a wider war. The logistical demands would be enormous: constant patrols by fighters, tankers, and AWACS aircraft, as well as clear rules of engagement. For now, NATO leaders have stopped short of this step, opting instead to reinforce their eastern defenses and maintain readiness.
The heightened state of alert has also affected domestic security in Poland. On September 15, authorities detained a 21-year-old Ukrainian man and a 17-year-old Belarusian woman on suspicion of flying a drone over government buildings in Warsaw, including the Belvedere presidential palace. The Polish State Protection Services quickly neutralized the drone and searched the suspects’ homes. While initial reports suggested both were Belarusian, officials later clarified their mixed nationality. Dismissing rumors of a “massive espionage action,” a government spokesperson suggested the incident may have been due to “carelessness, perhaps ignorance, perhaps because they wanted to make a film.”
Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine grinds on with continued brutality. Russian strikes in Zaporizhzhia killed a 41-year-old man and wounded 13 others, including a four-year-old child, while Ukrainian forces claimed successful attacks on Russian command posts in occupied Donetsk, disrupting enemy control. Ukrainian drones have also struck targets in Sochi and the Rostov region, demonstrating Kyiv’s resolve to hit back even as its own skies are under siege.
As NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte succinctly put it, “Eastern Sentry will make clear that NATO is always ready to defend.” For the alliance, the coming weeks will test both its solidarity and its ability to deter further Russian provocations without stumbling into a broader conflict. The stakes, for Europe and beyond, have rarely been higher.