NATO scrambles jets again after Russia launches fresh drone strikes

Tensions flared over Eastern Europe on Saturday, as NATO warplanes were scrambled for the second time this week after a fresh wave of Russian drone strikes on Ukraine. The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces confirmed the deployment, stating that allied and Polish aircraft had concluded operations after Russia ceased its long-range aerial assaults, with ground-based air defence systems returning to standard duties.

The move, confirmed Saturday morning, underlines ongoing efforts to secure Polish airspace amid heightened regional instability. The statement explained: "Operations of Polish and allied aviation in our airspace have been concluded in connection with the cessation of long-range aviation strikes by the Russian Federation on Ukraine.

"Ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems that were activated have returned to standard operational activities. Our actions were of a preventive nature and were aimed at securing the airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened zone."

The statement added that the Polish armed forces continuously monitored the situation on Ukraine's territory and remained in constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace.

The latest incident builds on a troubling pattern of Russian provocations. On Friday, three Russian military jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes near Vaindloo Island, in a brazen incursion that rattled NATO allies.

The Kremlin denied the breach, claiming flights over neutral waters, but the move echoed earlier tensions when Russian drones entered Polish airspace on September 9-10, with 19 incursions recorded during a massive drone attack on Ukraine.

That incident saw Polish and Dutch fighters down three drones, marking NATO's first shots fired since the Russia-Ukraine war began, and prompted the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry on September 12 to bolster defences along the eastern flank.

The repeated airspace violations have left NATO on edge, with additional patrols deployed to Poland and Romania.

A damaged drone crashing in the Polish village of Czosnowka on September 10 further fuelled public anxiety, while Estonia's recent ordeal tested the alliance's resolve.

Also on Saturday, Russian forces launched a series of missile strikes on Dnipro, Ukraine, causing significant damage to residential buildings and a local industrial facility, as reported by regional authorities.

The attacks resulted in three civilian casualties, including one child injured by shrapnel, while emergency services are still assessing the full extent of the destruction.

No official casualty figures have been finalised, but the strikes have left parts of the city without power, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The RAF on Friday dispatched Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager tanker from RAF Coningsby to patrol eastern Poland under NATO's Eastern Sentry activity.

The deployment followed a series of Russian airspace violations, including MiG-31s entering Estonian skies and drones crossing into Poland and Romania.

Britain's jets launched on short notice, spent several hours over Poland, and returned to the UK early this morning.

The mission highlights the UK's commitment to reinforcing NATO's eastern flank alongside Germany, Denmark, France, and the United States.