Poland has found itself thrust into the center of Europe’s escalating security tensions after a dramatic incursion of Russian drones into its airspace triggered the largest NATO deployment to the country in recent history. The operation, codenamed “Eastern Sentry,” was swiftly launched following a series of alarming events that have left both Polish officials and NATO leaders warning of an unprecedented threat on the alliance’s eastern flank.
It all began in the early hours between September 9 and 10, 2025, when about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace from the direction of Belarus and Ukraine. According to the National Security Bureau and Notes from Poland, Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled in response, shooting down some of the drones. This marked the first time Russian drones were brought down over NATO territory, a fact that instantly set off alarm bells in Warsaw and beyond. Seven additional drones were later found on Polish soil, further underscoring the gravity of the breach.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk did not mince words, describing the incident as “the closest that Poland has been to conflict since World War II,” as reported by Notes from Poland and The Mirror. The Polish government swiftly condemned the incursion as an “unprecedented act of aggression” by Russia and took the extraordinary step of invoking NATO’s Article 4, which triggers urgent consultations among alliance members.
While the Kremlin denied any involvement, suggesting that the drones might have been launched by Kyiv, Polish officials were unequivocal in their response. “We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t,” Prime Minister Tusk declared, firmly rejecting claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that the drone incursions “could have been a mistake” by Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky weighed in as well, branding the drone attack an “obvious expansion of the war by Russia.”
As the situation unfolded, it became clear that the threat was not limited to Poland alone. Over the weekend of September 13-14, Russian drones also breached Romanian airspace, prompting NATO to scramble F-16s and Romania’s defense ministry to track a drone until it disappeared from radar near the village of Chilia Veche. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the incident as “yet another unacceptable breach of an EU member state’s sovereignty,” warning that such “reckless escalation threatens regional security.”
In response, NATO moved quickly. On September 14, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a classified decree authorizing NATO member states’ armed forces to be stationed in Poland as part of Operation Eastern Sentry, according to the National Security Bureau. The mission, formally announced by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte just two days earlier, aims to reinforce NATO’s defensive posture and air defenses along the alliance’s eastern border.
“These forces and more will reinforce existing allied forces and enhance NATO’s deterrence and defensive posture where and when needed,” declared Secretary General Rutte, as cited by Notes from Poland. The operation, one of the largest in NATO’s history according to Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, is designed to create a multi-layered air defense system. “It is not just anti-drone, but applies to missiles, aviation, all types of threats that may arise,” Kosiniak-Kamysz explained, emphasizing the seriousness and scale of the mission.
Eight NATO member states have already declared their willingness to participate in Eastern Sentry, with others reportedly preparing to join. Among the reinforcements, France is sending three Rafale fighter jets, Germany is contributing four Eurofighters, and Denmark is dispatching two F-16s along with an anti-air warfare frigate. The Netherlands has announced it will accelerate the deployment of its Patriot air defense systems to Poland, while the Czech Republic has sent a helicopter unit. These deployments are intended to bolster the already substantial NATO presence in Poland, which includes around 10,000 U.S. troops, Dutch F-35s, and German Patriot batteries.
The operation’s details remain largely classified, but the scale and urgency are clear. Since NATO first deployed troops to Poland and the Baltic states in 2017, the alliance’s presence in the region has steadily expanded, with a division now headquartered in Szczecin. Eastern Sentry represents a significant escalation, reflecting the alliance’s determination to deter further Russian aggression.
For many in Poland and neighboring countries, the events of September 2025 have shattered any lingering sense of security. The repeated breaches of NATO airspace—first in Poland, then in Romania—have laid bare the volatility of the region. As The Mirror reported, Bucharest called the drone incursion a “new challenge” to security in the region, while EU officials stressed the broader implications for European stability.
Amidst the military maneuvers and diplomatic statements, there remains a sense of uncertainty about what comes next. While NATO leaders have rallied in support of Poland and Romania, and reinforcements are pouring in, the Kremlin’s intentions remain opaque. Russian officials continue to deny responsibility, but few in Warsaw, Brussels, or Washington are convinced by these denials.
What is certain is that the alliance is taking no chances. The rapid launch of Operation Eastern Sentry, the deployment of advanced fighter jets and air defense systems, and the invocation of Article 4 all signal a new era of vigilance on NATO’s eastern border. As Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz put it, “Eastern Sentry will be a very serious operation, probably one of the largest in NATO’s history.”
For ordinary Poles, the sight of foreign military hardware and personnel arriving in their country is both reassuring and unsettling. While many welcome NATO’s show of solidarity, the heightened state of alert is a stark reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond the border. As Prime Minister Tusk noted, this is the closest Poland has come to open conflict in decades—a sobering thought for a nation that has long prided itself on its role as a bulwark of European security.
As the dust settles on a tense week, Poland and its NATO allies are bracing for what may come next. The hope, of course, is that the show of strength will deter further provocations. But as recent events have shown, the security landscape in Eastern Europe is anything but predictable.
The story of Operation Eastern Sentry is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Poland, backed by its NATO allies, stands resolute in the face of new and unprecedented threats.