On the night of September 10, 2023, more than 20 unmanned aerial vehicles belonging to Russia entered Polish territory. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Some of them were shot down, and fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the rest. This incident has caused serious concern among residents living in the eastern region bordering Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal.
One local resident, Ala Vesolovska, said she heard the sound of a drone flying at low altitude over her house while preparing breakfast in the morning. Her home is located just 30 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Additionally, 38-year-old Katajina Jvigala, who lives with her children in the village of Vixalyov, reported hearing a loud explosion-like sound, which she later realized was a drone. Her son asked, “Mom, has the war come to us too?”
The Wall Street Journal emphasized that the entry of Russian drones into Poland marks a new phase in the country's stance on the war in Ukraine. Poland has already become a target of Russia's sabotage activities, and the aim of such operations is to weaken Warsaw's support for Kyiv.
However, the drone attack increases the risk of military confrontation. On September 13, 2023, Polish fighter jets were again scrambled.
According to official information, these actions were preventive. On the same day, Lublin city airport was temporarily closed.
Edita and Tomash Vecherek, residents of the village of Kshivovejba, said they received warnings on their phones about the “drone attack threat.” They expressed dissatisfaction that the government is not providing sufficient information on how the public should act in such situations.
Edita stressed that practical drills for the population should be organized by the state. Her daughter refuses to sleep on the second floor of their house after drone fragments fell on the roof in their village.
The public is still awaiting an official explanation. They are seeking answers to questions such as “What happened in the sky? Why were the planes scrambled? Isn’t this dangerous?”
According to WSJ, this event has divided Polish society into two parts. Some say their sympathy for Ukrainians has increased, while others believe Kyiv is dragging Poland into the conflict.
Some are also repeating claims spread by Russia that “the drones were specially directed to Poland by Ukrainians.” Bernard Blashchuk, head of the village of Viriki-Volya, said, “Disinformation is also a real threat.
We live just 12 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. That is why I want to see NATO troops here.”
It was also reported that drone fragments damaged one of the houses in his village. Thus, the incident involving Russian drones has called Poland to greater vigilance and brought new questions about the country's security policy to the agenda.
