'New phase of aggression'. Ukraine wants to intercept Russian targets together with Poland – MFA
Photo: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is calling on NATO countries to make a decision as soon as possible on intercepting Russian missiles and drones in Ukrainian airspace. Ukraine is also ready to assist Poland in repelling future Russian aerial attacks, according to a statement from Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha.
According to the minister, the incident with Russian drones over Poland marks a new phase of Russian aggression. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is openly mocking all peaceful plans of Western countries, primarily the United States.
"Putin continues to escalate, expand the war, and test the West's resilience. The longer he does not face a show of force in response, the more aggressive he becomes. A weak response now will provoke Russia even further — and then its missiles and drones will reach even deeper into Europe," he said.
Sybiha emphasized that it is time to act decisively — condemnations alone are no longer enough. A response is needed both bilaterally and multilaterally.
"What does this mean? A swift decision, which we are eagerly awaiting, to intercept Russian aerial objects over Ukrainian territory. We have discussed this with our neighbors — Romania, Poland, and other neighboring countries where similar incidents have already been recorded: whether it was debris falling or violations of airspace," he noted.
Additionally, the minister added that it is important to provide Ukraine with greater air defense capabilities. In particular, partners can help build an aerial shield over Ukraine and also deprive Russia of the means to produce its "precision" weapons.
After the Russian attack on Poland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to provide Poland with all available data regarding the drone incursions and assist in developing its alert and air defense systems.
Russian drone attack on Poland
On the night of September 10, a Russian strike using attack drones on Ukraine hit Poland — a NATO member — for the first time. At least 19 drones entered Polish territory. So far, debris from Russian drones has been found in 11 Polish settlements.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the Alliance’s response to the incident in Poland "very successful." He emphasized that the previous night demonstrated NATO’s readiness to defend every inch of its territory, including its airspace.
In response to statements from NATO countries, the Russian Ministry of Defense falsely claimed that the range of the drones that attacked Poland "did not exceed 700 kilometers" and stated that targets in Poland were "not planned." The Kremlin refused to comment on the situation.
What lies behind the Kremlin’s actions, why it happened now, and how the Alliance might respond — read more in the RBC-Ukraine material.
