"Following Poland's request, a UN Security Council emergency meeting will be convened regarding the violation of Polish airspace by Russia," the ministry wrote on X.
The announcement came after Poland’s military reported that Russian drones crossed its border 19 times the previous night during an assault on Ukraine, with some entering from Belarus.
Several drones deemed a threat were shot down, marking the first time Russian drones have been destroyed over NATO territory, officials said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the incursion brought Poland "the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II," as Western aircraft directly engaged Russian assets for the first time since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago.
He described the incident as a likely “large-scale provocation” and said air defence procedures worked as planned.
He told parliament the incursions occurred between 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Debris from 16 drones has been found in several provinces.
The breaches, which Warsaw labelled an “act of aggression,” triggered NATO consultations under Article 4, which allows allies to convene when a member’s security or territorial integrity is threatened.
A Russian diplomat in Warsaw was summoned and handed a formal note of protest.
President Karol Nawrocki, who discussed the incident by phone with US President Donald Trump, said the talks reaffirmed "allied unity."
He called a meeting of Poland’s National Security Council for Thursday.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called the incident an "unprecedented attack" not only on Poland, but also on NATO and the European Union.
Allies pledged concrete support, officials told reporters.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Sweden would send air defence systems and aircraft, while the Netherlands promised Patriot and NASAMS batteries, counter-drone systems, and 300 troops.
World leaders condemned the incursion, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling it “unacceptable” and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen declaring that Europe “stands in full solidarity with Poland.”
NATO chief Mark Rutte denounced Russia’s "reckless behaviour" and said allies were "resolved to defend every inch of Allied territory."
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said preliminary indications suggested the drone flights were deliberate, calling them the most serious violation of European airspace since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky offered Poland training and expertise in countering Iranian-made Shahed drones.
At the United Nations, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the breach demonstrated "the regional impact" of Russia's war in Ukraine and underlined the "real risk of expansion of this devastating conflict."
The European Parliament is expected to debate the incident on Thursday.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info, gov.pl, polskieradio24.pl