‘Russia is attacking NATO ally Poland; This is an act of war’: US lawmaker

Washington: US Representative Joe Wilson on Wednesday alleged that Russia had attacked Poland, a NATO member, using Iranian-made Shahed drones, describing it as “an act of war.”

“Russia is attacking NATO ally Poland with Iranian shahed drones less than a week after President Trump hosted President Nawrocki at the White House. This is an act of war, and we are grateful to NATO allies for their swift response to war criminal Putin’s continued unprovoked aggression against free and productive nations. I urge President Trump to respond with mandatory sanctions that will bankrupt the Russian war machine and arm Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russia. Putin is no longer content just losing in Ukraine while bombing mothers and babies, he is now directly testing our resolve in NATO territory. Putin stated that ‘Russia knows no borders.’ Free and prosperous nations will teach Russia about borders,” Wilson said in a statement.

His remarks followed claims by Ukraine’s air force that Russian drones had crossed into Polish airspace early Wednesday, threatening the city of Zamosc. In a since-deleted post on Telegram, the air force had warned: “drones in Poland, heading west, toward the city of Zamosc!,” according to Reuters.

Poland’s armed forces said its jets, along with NATO aircraft, were operating in the country’s airspace after Russia launched airstrikes on Ukraine’s western border regions. “Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness,” the operational command said on X.

Meanwhile, authorities in Poland suspended flights at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport and three other airports. A Notice to Airmen posted on the US Federal Aviation Administration website linked the closure to “unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security,” CNN reported.

Poland and Finland share borders with Russia, and both NATO members were put on edge by Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.