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Breaking: NATO Triggers Article 4 After Russian Drones Breach Polish Airspace
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
NATO has invoked Article 4 of its founding treaty at Poland’s request, following a wave of Russian drones crossing into Polish airspace overnight, Polish media outlet Polsat News reported on September 10.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Warsaw had formally requested consultations under Article 4 after repeated violations of Polish airspace.
“Consultations with our allies have taken the form of a formal request to trigger Article 4,” Tusk told lawmakers in the Sejm . “This is only the beginning. During these consultations we will be expecting much greater support. This is a confrontation that Russia has declared on the free world.”
Government spokesman Adam Szłapka later confirmed to Polsat News that NATO had acted on Poland’s request, initiating the procedure under Article 4.
Article 4 allows any NATO member to call consultations whenever it considers its territorial integrity, political independence, or security under threat. While it does not trigger military action, it signals heightened concern and solidarity within the Alliance. Since NATO’s founding in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked only seven times—most recently by Poland and allies in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The latest move came after one of the most severe cross-border incidents since the war began. According to Polish officials, Russian drones repeatedly violated Polish airspace. Out of 19 drones launched—some from Belarus—several were intercepted, and wreckage was found across multiple regions.
By mid-morning, authorities reported locating seven drones and an unidentified missile. In the village of Wyryki, drone debris damaged a residential building and a car.
Other crash sites included Cześniki, Czosnówka, Krzywowierzba-Kolonia, Wyhalew, Wohyń, Mniszków, and Oleśno.
Earlier, Poland moved military vehicles to its eastern frontier with Belarus, just hours after Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace during the night—forcing NATO fighter jets to scramble, air defenses to activate, and airports in Warsaw to shut down temporarily.
The deployment comes on the eve of the large-scale Russian-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2025.
