The UK Ministry of Defence announced on Monday that Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters will conduct air defence patrols over Poland as part of NATO’s newly launched Operation Eastern Shield.
In its statement, the ministry stressed that Britain’s “commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory remains unwavering.”
The deployment follows last week’s incident in which Russian drones recklessly violated Polish airspace, prompting allied forces to intercept and destroy several of them.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking to Channel 4 News, confirmed that the UK will provide “further air defence over Poland” in response to these incursions.
“It is the right course of action,” he said, adding that “to turn a blind eye to Putin’s escalating aggression would be wholly wrong.”
Starmer emphasised that the drone incident should not be seen as “a one-off.” He recalled that only weeks ago, Russian strikes on Kyiv damaged the British Council offices, EU premises, and Ukrainian government buildings. “It is absolutely clear that Russia is stepping up its campaign of aggression. It is vital that NATO allies respond decisively—and that is precisely what we are doing today,” he remarked.
RAF Typhoons from Coningsby air base in Lincolnshire will take part in the mission, supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Defence Secretary John Healey underlined that “the UK is fully committed to its role in Operation Eastern Shield, further strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.”
The announcement came shortly after Russia’s ambassador to London, Andrei Kelin, was summoned to the Foreign Office over what Britain described as an “unprecedented breach” of NATO airspace.
The Polish incident was not isolated: Romania also reported over the weekend that one of its F-16 jets intercepted a Russian drone that had strayed into its territory.
Between 9 and 10 September, Poland’s airspace was repeatedly violated by Russian drones. Those deemed an immediate threat were shot down by Polish and allied aircraft, marking the first time in modern history that Poland’s air force had to use live weapons in defence of its skies.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Friday that the alliance had activated Operation Eastern Shield to reinforce its eastern flank. The mission will involve, among others, Danish F-16s, French Rafales, and German Eurofighters.
Earlier this year, from April to July, six RAF Typhoons were deployed to Poland for an extended air policing mission. During that period, they were scrambled 20 times, logged nearly 500 flight hours, and coordinated closely with Swedish aircraft.
Source: PAP
Photo: @intermarium24
Tomasz Modrzejewski
