The numbers tell a troubling story. Over the past two years, Russian aircraft and drones have violated NATO airspace in Poland at least six times, with similar intrusions reported in Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Finland , Sweden, and Norway. The worst incident occurred during the overnight violation of Sept. 9-10, 2025, when 19 Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace. Allied aircraft destroyed four drones, and their debris was found over 250 kilometers into Polish territory—marking the most significant incursion to date. Since 2022 there have been dozens of Russian incursions into alliance airspace. What was once considered rare and brief has become routine and increasingly prolonged.

The skies over Eastern Europe have become a testing ground for NATO’s resolve. In September 2025, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes—an eternity in military terms. Just days earlier, Russian drones penetrated Polish territory in what officials described as a deliberate provocation. These incidents are not isolated anomalies but part of a disturbing pattern that exposes fundamental challenges facing the alliance as it confronts an increasingly brazen Russia.

The skies over Eastern Europe have become a testing ground for NATO’s resolve. In September 2025, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes—an eternity in military terms. Just days earlier, Russian drones penetrated Polish territory in what officials described as a deliberate provocation. These incidents are not isolated anomalies but part of a disturbing pattern that exposes fundamental challenges facing the alliance as it confronts an increasingly brazen Russia.

The numbers tell a troubling story. Over the past two years, Russian aircraft and drones have violated NATO airspace in Poland at least six times, with similar intrusions reported in Lithuania, Latvi