Poland & Romania Lodge Strong Protests at Russia Over Drone Incursions: NATO Tensions Escalate

Warsaw & Bucharest, September 15, 2025 — In recent days, Poland and Romania have each summoned Russia’s diplomatic representatives in response to multiple drone incursions that breached their NATO-aligned airspace. The developments mark a sharp escalation in regional tensions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and raise pressing questions about alliance defense readiness and international norms.

Nature of the Incidents
Poland reported numerous drone-type objects entering its airspace overnight during a Russian air assault on western Ukraine. According to officials, at least 19 violations were recorded on a single night. Some of the intruding drones were intercepted and shot down. > Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described the event as an “unprecedented breach” — not only of Poland’s territory but of NATO and EU airspace. He asserted there is “no doubt this was not accidental.”

Simultaneously, Romania reported that a Russian Geran drone entered its airspace near the Danube delta region. The drone was tracked for about 50 minutes, from the village of Chilia Veche in the northeast, moving toward Izmail, before exiting Romanian airspace near Pardina. Romanian F-16 jets and allied aircraft, including German Eurofighter Typhoons, were scrambled to monitor the intrusion.

Diplomatic Responses
On September 10, Poland’s Foreign Ministry summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw to convey a formal protest. Romania followed suit on September 11 and 12, summoning the Russian Ambassador to Bucharest to express condemnation of both the violation committed against Poland’s airspace and the incursion into Romanian airspace.

Legal Norms, NATO Reaction & Strategy
Poland has invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for consultations among Allies whenever a member perceives its territorial integrity, political independence, or security to be threatened. The move signals Warsaw’s intention to elevate the issue, seek multilateral diplomatic as well as security responses, and possibly push for stronger air defense measures on NATO’s eastern flank.

Romania emphasized that the drone incursion, coupled with proximity of strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure near its borders, poses risks to civilian safety and regional stability, especially in the Black Sea region. Its Foreign Ministry reminded Russia of the imperative to respect sovereignty and international law, particularly around the mouths of the Danube River.

Moscow’s Position
Russia has denied having intentionally violated Polish or Romanian airspace. On some instances it attributed accusations to misdirection, electronic interference, or denied targeting NATO states. Russian diplomatic statements have criticized what they call “anti-Russian rhetoric” and “provocative interpretations” of drone activity.

Implications for Regional Security
These incidents underline growing unease among NATO members over cross-border spill-overs of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. They test alliance deterrence, especially in detecting, intercepting, and responding to unmanned aerial systems which are harder to track and regulate than traditional aircraft. Analysts warn that repeated drone incursions could lower the threshold for unintended escalation unless clear protocols and rapid diplomatic responses are in place. Additionally, the Black Sea region and Eastern Europe may see further militarization of airspaces, deployment of advanced air defense systems, and more frequent NATO patrols. The incidents also strain Russia’s relations with the EU and neighbouring NATO allies, potentially triggering sanctions or more stringent diplomatic measures.

What to Watch Next
• NATO’s internal response: whether Article 4 consultations yield decisions to boost air policing, deploy more assets, or enhance radar and detection capabilities.
• Domestic political fallout in Poland and Romania, where public and opposition pressure may demand tougher action.
• Russia’s next moves: whether it repeats incursions, changes its drone tactics, or responds with its own diplomatic or military countermoves.
• Wider EU response: condemnations, possible unified statements, pressure in forums like the UN or OSCE.
• Impact on Ukraine: the incidents may influence its security calculations, requests for assistance, or its role in broader NATO/EU defence planning.

As airspace sovereignty remains a critical component of national security, the Poland-Romania summoning of Moscow’s envoys reflects both alarm and resolve — demonstrating that NATO members expect both respect for borders and accountability in times of conflict.