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Poland Airspace Breach Sparks Security Council Emergency Meeting as Allies Vow Defense

Meetings Coverage
Security Council

9995th Meeting (PM)

SC/16168
12 September 2025

Ukraine Warns of Third World War: 'Tomorrow, Russian Drones or Missiles Could Fall on Berlin, Paris or London'

In an emergency Security Council meeting requested by Poland, most Member States today condemned the Russian Federation's alleged violation of Polish airspace with military drones, warning of an unprecedented, dangerous regional escalation, and urging Moscow to end its war of aggression against Ukraine.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members rallied around Poland in a strong show of solidarity, with the United States vowing to "defend every inch of NATO territory" and France affirming that "we will not waver in the face of Russia's intimidation". The Council also heard that all three Baltic States — Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania — experienced Russian incursions into their airspace over the past year.

In her briefing on the incidents, Rosemary DiCarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, voiced "deep concern" that on 10 September, Poland had informed the President of the Council of events during the night of 9 and 10 September — when 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, some shot down pre-emptively. It was the first time that multiple drones have flown so deep into a neighbouring country's airspace — and that force was used by Poland and its NATO allies to neutralize the perceived threat. Citing media reports that some devices were so-called Gerbera drones used by the Russian Federation in the war in Ukraine, she reported damage in Polish villages but "no casualties".

She quoted Polish authorities that some drones entered from Belarus, while noting that "the Belarusian Ministry of Defence claimed that the Russian drones were deflected by counter-drone measures of Ukrainian forces and veered off course". Belarus stated that it had alerted Poland and Lithuania as drones approached their airspace — confirmed by the Polish military.

Noting the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence's statement that the country "had no intention to engage any targets on the territory of Poland", she said that Russian authorities acknowledged carrying out, during the same period, a "massive strike" including "attack drones against the Ukrainian defence industry" in Western Ukraine. Further, Moscow also expressed readiness to hold consultations with Polish authorities on the matter, she added.

Recalling that Poland had invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, she said that the alarming incident occurred against the backdrop of continued large-scale attacks on Ukraine — launching 415 drones and over 40 cruise and ballistic missiles on 9 and 10 September, with at least 208 civilians killed in August alone; meanwhile, she also voiced concern over the impact of the war on civilians in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. She therefore called again for "a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine".

Poland: Incidents Not Mistake but on Purpose

As the floor opened for debate, many speakers joined in the condemnation of the incidents. Marcin Bosacki, Secretary of State of Poland, said that for the first time in history, his country had requested a Council meeting to declare that the sky over its country was deliberately violated by the Russian Federation, and while such incidents happened before, this was on purpose on an unprecedented scale. "We know that it was not a mistake," he stressed.

Citing the Russian Federation's near-Orwellian language and "blatant lies", he recalled that same kind of rhetoric was used by Soviet diplomats decades ago when they attacked Czechoslovakia and Poland. "Russia wants to set the region on fire", he said, warning against airspace violation becoming "the accepted norm". The Council's credibility and the global rules-based order it is sworn to protect are at stake, with Moscow proving "its complete lack of credibility" as a permanent member, he said. Poland will not be intimidated, and its "resolve to stand with Ukraine" remains unwavering, he stressed, calling on the Council to respond to the violations with unified, unequivocal, and immediate condemnation.

European Security at Risk

Slovenia's delegate described the Russian Federation as a "notorious serial violator of the UN Charter" that had once again resorted to terror tactics, condemning Moscow's "aggressive and dangerous acts". It is "hard to imagine that so many drones flew so deep over Polish territory unintentionally", he said. "Let us be clear: such mistakes do not happen [...] Europe is deeply alarmed." Similarly, the United Kingdom's representative noted the unprecedented scale as about 20 drones entered Polish territory, prompting the closure of major airports and shelter-in-place warnings issued to more than 8 million Polish citizens. "Russia's aggression only strengthens the unity between NATO nations", she stated. "We will defend every inch of NATO territory", affirmed the representative of the United States, standing by those allies "in the face of these alarming airspace violations". While her Government consults with Poland and other NATO allies under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, she warned that since the Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin on 15 August, the Russian Federation "has intensified its bombing campaign against Ukraine", resulting in loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure. Further, "violating the airspace of a United States ally intentionally or otherwise" shows "immense disrespect for good-faith United States efforts" to end the conflict, she stated — urging Moscow to immediately end hostilities through direct negotiations with Ukraine.

All Baltic Countries Had Airspace Breached Over Past Year

Expressing full solidarity with "Polish allies", the representative of Latvia, also speaking for Estonia and Lithuania, recalled that all Baltic States have had Russian assets entering their airspace illegally in the past year — demanding that it end — and recalling that Article 51 of the UN Charter allows for self-defence if an armed attack occurs. "Russia must be stopped", she stated, urging the Council to fulfil its role maintaining international peace and security.

With delegations including Guyana, Sierra Leone, Panama and Somalia echoing condemnation of the incursion into Polish territory as unacceptable, France's representative voiced full solidarity with Warsaw — noting that State's call for the emergency Council meeting was "legitimate", and it was "up to the Council to respond". Noting his Government was strengthening its support for air defense of Poland and Europe's eastern flank, he stressed: "We will not waver in the face of Russia's intimidation." By "plowing ahead dangerously", the Russian Federation is increasing the threat it poses to European and global security. The representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, affirmed: "We will also work with our international partners to put pressure on Russia to end this war."

Russian Federation Accuses Poland of Hastily Blaming Moscow

However, the representative of the Russian Federation accused Poland of hastily blaming Moscow "without presenting any evidence", condemning "political clickbait" advanced by Polish and European politicians. Moscow's 10 September strikes targeted military-industrial facilities in Ukraine, he said, adding that given the drones' maximum range of 700 kilometres, it was "physically impossible" to have reached Polish territory. Moscow's Ministry of Defence, he said, expressed readiness "to engage in professional dialogue and consultations with the Ministry of Defence of Poland", calling on Polish colleagues "to take advantage of these proposals rather than engaging in megaphone diplomacy at multilateral platforms".

This "artificially blown-up hysteria" only benefits "the Kyiv regime and the European party of war who are desperately trying to derail prospects for Ukrainian resolution", he concluded. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is "the main opponent to a political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis which will uncover his illegitimacy", he stated — further warning that Western weapons and sanctions "do not bring peace any closer" but entrench "the illusion in Kyiv that they will manage to change the reality".

Belarus' delegate repudiated any claims against his country in connection with the violations of Polish airspace — with accusations being especially groundless since Belarus was the first and possibly only entity to inform Poland about the approach of drones, allowing them to quickly respond. "We have heard rhetoric from the Polish delegation and the Polish military services were more accurate and correct in their statements", he added. He criticized Poland's decision to close its land border with Belarus, calling on all parties to revert to constructive dialogue.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Netherlands, speaking also for Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as Denmark, warned of a dangerous and reckless escalation, with the latter noting that Russian drones used to "terrorize the people of Ukraine" are becoming a serious threat "to all countries bordering Russia". Such aggressions "will only reinforce our determination to continue supporting Ukraine", she stated. "Russia's war on Ukraine is not only a European problem", echoed Greece's delegate, adding that it can seriously undermine global stability and security. Others including Algeria and Pakistan agreed, with the Republic of Korea's delegate, Council President for September, in his national capacity, issuing a stark reminder that "what we are seeing can lead to the horizontal expansion of an illegal war — spilling across borders".

Calls for Goodwill

Calling for restraint, China's delegate cautioned that in the current context any misunderstanding, misjudgement or confrontational rhetoric may spark an escalation. Despite recent "positive momentum of dialogue", significant gaps persist in the positions and claims of the parties, he observed, while "the situation on the battlefield remains extremely grave". The international community needs "goodwill rather than hostility, mutual accommodation instead of military confrontation and de-escalation rather than further escalation", he stated.

However, "we are further away from peace than we have ever been", warned Ukraine's delegate, adding the catastrophic human toll reached its worst point last month since the beginning of Moscow's illegal invasion. "Just two days ago, Moscow decided it was not enough to keep murdering the Ukrainians", he said, fully sharing Polish authorities' assessment of "a conscious decision" to "cross yet another red line" and test the international community's patience. Without a decisive reaction, Moscow will not stop with Poland. "Tomorrow, it could be drones or even missiles falling on Berlin, Paris, or London", he warned. If the Council fails to stop this new phase of escalation, "we are staring into an abyss of a third world war", he asserted.