Can nations act independently against aerial threats over Ukraine? Expert answers
Expert explained whether individual states can shoot down targets over Ukraine (Illustrative photo: GettyImages)
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that to shoot down targets over the territory of Ukraine, Warsaw needs the support of NATO and the European Union.
"We, as NATO and the EU, could do this, but Poland cannot make this decision on its own; it can only be taken jointly with its allies," Sikorski said.
At the same time, Victoria Vdovychenko, co-director of the Future of Ukraine program at the Cambridge University Center for Geopolitics, told RBC-Ukraine that in this case, it is more about political considerations rather than direct restrictions from NATO.
"If Poland believes that drones over Ukrainian territory pose a threat to it, then it can shoot them down in coordination with Ukraine using the means it already has at its disposal. If they were to operate other systems stationed on Polish territory, then yes, an Alliance decision would be required," Vdovychenko said.
Russian drone incursion into Poland
On the night of September 10, during an attack on Ukraine, Russia launched about 20 drones into Polish airspace.
To ensure security, Polish aviation for the first time shot down Russian drones over its own territory.
In response, NATO activated four articles of the Alliance and launched Operation Eastern Sentry, which involves the redeployment of equipment by allies to strengthen Poland's defense.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that on Sunday, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed approval for the redeployment of NATO troops to Poland.
