Ukraine downs Russian drones heading to Poland and Baltics — Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: facebook.com zelenskyy.official)
Ukraine tries to intercept all Russian drones, including those heading toward Romania, Moldova, Poland, or the Baltic states, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He stated that if a drone cannot be intercepted, Ukraine immediately informs its partners and tries to assist them before the aircraft crosses into their territory.
Zelenskyy stressed that Russia uses drones not only to strike Ukraine but also as a tool to pressure NATO countries and test their response.
According to him, this is a typical signal from the Kremlin: do not support Ukraine.
"I believe there must be a stronger response from a united NATO," the president said.
Zelenskyy added that Vladimir Putin compares the alliance's current reaction with previous years while simultaneously testing the air defenses of NATO countries bordering Russia or Belarus.
Moscow wonders whether they can intercept all missiles and drones.
Earlier, on the night of September 10, 2025, Russian drones breached Polish airspace. Zelenskyy later confirmed that at least around twenty Russian strike drones were directed toward Poland, with Polish forces shooting down four of the 19.
NATO activated Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty at Poland's request and later launched Operation Eastern Sentry, deploying military equipment to Poland.
At the time, Zelenskyy also explained that Putin was testing NATO, checking how prepared the alliance is and how local populations would react.
The pattern is now repeating in another NATO member state. On May 29, a Russian Geran-2 drone (similar to Shahed-type) struck a residential building in Galați, Romania, damaging and setting fire to an apartment on the 10th floor, injuring two people, and forcing the evacuation of 70 residents.
F-16 fighter jets were scrambled for interception, but the drone was not shot down because it emerged over a populated area.
