Overview

• Poland said its forces and allied jets conducted preventive air operations and raised ground-based air defenses to maximum alert, with flights halted at Lublin airport as a precaution.
• Romania reported detecting a drone in its national airspace near Chilia Veche during Russian strikes on Ukraine, issued local alerts in Tulcea, and later handed air policing to German Eurofighters after F-16s tracked the UAV.
• NATO announced the Eastern Sentry operation to bolster drone interception and integrated air and ground defenses, with contributions including Danish F-16s and a frigate, three French Rafales, four German Eurofighters, and indicated UK support.
• Poland invoked NATO’s Article 4 and sought a UN Security Council meeting after roughly 19 drones entered its airspace; Moscow denied responsibility, NATO said its assessment continues, and President Donald Trump’s suggestion of an error was rejected by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
• Large Russia–Belarus Zapad-2025 exercises began near NATO borders, prompting heightened vigilance across Poland and the Baltic states.