"Russians ramping up aggression": RAF fighter jets to deploy to Poland after Putin drones shot down by Nato
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Royal Air Force jets will be deployed to Poland after the country’s airspace was violated by Russian drones.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Channel 4 News that Britain would provide “further air defence over Poland” following last week’s incident in which multiple Russian drones were shot down by Nato forces. He said: “That is the right thing to do. The wrong thing to do would be to ignore this increased aggression from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, from Russia.
“Because this wasn’t a one-off. You saw only a few weeks ago the bombing of the British Council in Kyiv, the attacking of the EU embassy, and the direct hits on the Council of Ministers in Kyiv itself.” He added: “It’s absolutely clear that the Russians are ramping up the aggression. It’s very important that, with our Nato allies, we respond appropriately to that and that’s what we’re doing today.”
Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, will join Nato’s “Eastern Sentry” mission, flying over Poland alongside aircraft from Denmark, France and Germany. They will be supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said 19 Russian drones flew over Poland, of which up to four were shot down. He added that wreckages of 16 aircraft were discovered across the countryside, damaging houses and cars. It was the first time Moscow drones were shot down after flying over Nato airspace. Russia said the incursion was not deliberate, and would be holding a discussion with Poland.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The UK is fully committed to playing its part in Eastern Sentry, increasing our military presence on Nato’s eastern flank even further.” The announcement comes after Russia’s ambassador in London, Andrei Kelin, was summoned by the Foreign Office today over his country’s “unprecedented violation” of Nato airspace.
As well as last week’s incursion over Poland, Romania’s defence ministry said over the weekend that a Russian drone had entered its airspace and been intercepted by two F-16 fighter jets. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the incident over his country had brought Poland “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two”. The UK is joining Nato efforts to bolster its eastern flank amid concerns over future incursions.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “Russia should understand that its continued aggression only strengthens the unity between Nato allies and our determination to stand with Ukraine, and any further incursions will again be met with force.”
Six RAF Typhoon jets had been based in Poland between April and July as part of Nato’s enhanced air policing mission, a task shared between members of the alliance. During that deployment, the jets amassed almost 500 flying hours and 20 scrambles, operating alongside Swedish aircraft.