Public sentiment regarding Russian drone incursions in Europe is largely negative, reflecting deep skepticism and frustration towards NATO's response and a pervasive distrust in political leaders, particularly former President Trump. Many commenters urge for stronger military action and express fear over potential escalations, viewing these incidents as serious provocations rather than mere accidents. While some advocate for robust support for Ukraine, others perceive the situation as a manipulated narrative bolstered by biased media, resulting in calls for a reevaluation of current defense strategies.

NATO

United States

Russia

Ukraine

Notice-to-Airmen (NOTAM) issued not only for the closure of Lublin but now even Warsaw airport because of unplanned military activity.

FairtradeKichererbse

Polish news TV on the matter:

Ukraine warns: Russian Shahed drones have entered Polish airspace via the eastern border. Polish and NATO allied aircraft are operating in Polish airspace. Unconfirmed reports indicate an incursion of several Russian drones into Polish airspace.

https://www.tvp.info/88827936/dowodztwo-operacyjne-rsz-w-naszej-przestrzeni-operuja-polskie-i-sojusznicze-statki-powietrzne

GrenobleLyon

Update: BBC says they shot down the drones. That's a good sign for Poland and perhaps even Europe

AnomalousMount

It is obvious that borders are being tested. How far can the Russians go? Will Europe raise the baby or will it be spoiled? Turkey has shown the way. Shoot down and destroy everything as soon as it touches our airspace. They don't understand diplomacy.

home3rd

Apparently, it's not just Poland. Slovakia and Moldova too.

Viriato181

Enough, Russia. You've crossed the red line. Now you're leaving the West with no choice but to take a drastic decision: send its strongest letter of condemnation.

LarryDeClay_Fanboy

Seems only fair to strike the launch sites of these drones

nyashiiii

The NATO eyebrows are in the process of furrowing.

Chorchapu

Water gets a little warmer. What does the frog do?

Lopsided-Customer546

autist_93_

TokyoMegatronics

Many people have warned of a Russian test of Article 5 since 2022. This looks like such a test to me. Poland and NATO will need to come down very hard on this escalation.

Shadowbringers

It’s okay, those are peaceful drones. Also, if not Ukraine they wouldn’t fly there. It’s Ukraine’s fault.

If Trump was a president it would have never happened. So it’s also Biden’s fault.

positivcheg

Europeans: NATO is a sleeping giant, give it 3.5 more years please...

Its sleeping alright...

annon8595

Looks like Poland actually did something. 

https://x.com/dowopersz/status/1965593314716995891

etzel1200

I'm sure we will get some downplaying of the event tomorrow in order to remove the necessity for a political reaction

Deep_Blue_Kitsune

NATO should declare a no fly zone 100km away from any NATO border with Ukraine. Anything flying in there should be destroyed without compromise. I’m sure Ukraine would support it.

Evening-Spinach-839

*Soon, one will cross over and land but not blow up*

*Next, one will cross over and blow up a cow in a field*

*Next, one will cross over and blow up an outhouse*

*Next, 800 will cross over and blow up aerial defenses*

tiny_chaotic_evil

I knew I should have bought that switch 2. No point saving up for the future

[deleted]

No flyzone for western Ukraine is the only answer

dakjelle

Fuck there's a lot of anti-EU and anti-NATO stuff in this thread. The putler cock gobblers and bots are out in force.

ProfMap

This is just sad to watch at this point ,one day people will die. And yet no consequences nothing. ruzzia does as they please.

wildrabbit12

Soo.... What you're saying is NATO now has a "casus belli" to attack and destroy russia?

Noice.

ViruliferousBadger

NATO or Europe to control all the Ukrainian airspace please.

Pengawena

I fear there will be foot-stomping and pursed lips. Getting serious here.

ffdfawtreteraffds

People need to chill out with the whole "Europe will do nothing" rhetoric.

Poland has confirmed they took action and shot down the drones.

Something happened, "nothing-happenites".

Now, what will follow next, is the true question for NATO's strategy and red lines.

GreatNecksby

I think sooner or later we simply have to take the plunge and send in troops and put Russia in it's place. If they use nukes we all die, but at least we didn't die as Russians. We've always been ready to fight them to avoid ever being like them.

Mosh83

Markseide

Hope NATO can test Moscow with napalm strikes.

ColdZal

So, Russia attack a NATO member with drones... Article 5 when?

DramaticDude

Forgive me if I'm wrong here, but don't Poland have a much more modern and larger military than Ukraine has? As well as a rather hefty pent up grudge against the Russians?

Why would they think it's a good idea to antagonise Poland if they're struggling so much taking over the Ukraine? It doesn't seem like it would work out very well for them, and that's before you take into account attacking them would mean the rest of the EU piling on.

Maleficent-War-8429

Poland should remember that Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet with a pilot for a few seconds of airspace violation a few years ago and it resulted in zero retaliation from Russia.  The only consequence was that Russian planes stopped operating close to the Turkish border.

Savings_Magician_570

I really wish folks would grow some balls and just shoot these down. I don’t understand what the advantage of continually letting them penetrate NATO airspace is supposed to be.

Edit: It sounds like Poland finally did. Good for them.

Kowlz1

meanwhile Europe: it's still not ours war

Select_Truck3257

So help Ukraine and start shooting down drones and missiles over Ukraine's territory itself. Everyone benefits from this, except Russia.

yenneferismywaifu

I thought the words "Kamikaze" and "Drone" are mutually exclusive.

fuxoft

Russia forgets that they've lost 50% of their military force and NATO hasn't even started yet smh

Also as a county with 2 massive population centers it's pretty stupid to threaten with nukes.

Stin-king_Rich

DarrensDodgyDenim

It’s insane that Poland after three years still does not engage Russian air targets near their border. A functional air defence bubble is the absolute minimum that NATO should have done just out of plain necessity to stop things like this happening.

Denbt_Nationale

Here in Netherlands I read on the news that Polish fighters went airborne and destroyed 4. Our 2 F-35's stationed there went airborne too. So NATO did respond finally!

Als Reddit shared some info:
https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/s/SDzEHvXvFS

FastyX

just as the military exercise in belarussia is about to start

wolfhound_doge

I am sure Putin wants to be in hell by Christmas. You would hope his fellow Russians would not be so keen, but he seems to be surrounded by an over ambitious doomsday cult. Time for NATO to flex a little.

Jaded_Creative_101

Did the ones on the south ultimately end up in Moldova?

AkagamiBarto

Remember guys saying “but its just forest on the borders, few km its not important”

See? So after all there will be more and more because russians wont stop at us

We need to work together. You can shut unmanned piece of metal already in Ukrainian sky to avoid any casualties from polish civilians. 

But you know, if want to continue beef with us, ignore problems just across your border you are free to do so. If not morality then maybe at least your security will bother you


Disclamer: Im super thankful to Poland and all other who helped us but we aren’t alone in this.

Your_Kaizer

NATO should have a 100km protection into ukraine and shoot down anything going over it

3ng8n334

It seems everyone just lets Russia do whatever it wants now, its over EU is not going to do anything and America is in Russias pocket now its over.

CorrectDrop

You realize how big this actually is when you see a map and realize the drones went through Ukraine airspace first. Almost feels like they were testing max range.

Jenetyk

They have a range of 300 km. What is the distance from Russia to Poland?

Both_Round_6209

AncientAdvisor8298

We need cheaper solutions to deal with these over the long run, firing AMRAAM or a Patriot missle is not feasable.

Shrtaxc

Honestly the best bit about this will be when the police finally start arresting all the politicians who are getting regular payments from Putin. 

Le Pen, Orban, Boris etc all need to be jailed for treason the moment shit starts to go down.

elpovo

One of the reasons this provocation will be a win for russia is because now anti air weapons will be needed more in eastern Europe and less will be given to Ukraine

demoman92

“The Dutch F-35 jets that took part in Wednesday’s anti-drone operation only arrived in Poland a few days ago as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission.”

Im going to put my tinfoil hat on for this one, but did Russia know of this deployment and wasn’t this an attempt to bait out an F-35 to get sensory data on things like it’s radar profile and air-to-air capabilities? Just shooting a handful of drones, apart from the obvious provocation and testing the red line, seems quite useless. 

Tin foil hat off: we are under attack. Espionage ships dragging anchors to destroy critical infrastructure, airspace violations, a coordinated propaganda campaign, cyber attacks, when will Europe actually step up and say enough is enough?

RedBaret

If stray Russian Shaheds flying into Poland can be excused as a navigation error - can't stray F-35s flying into Ukraine and taking down Shaheds also be excused as a navigation error?

goyafrau

I just want to say that shooting down shahed type drones using f35 is not very economically sane and a good way to bankrupt yourself. Ukraine uses numerous mobile anti air groups spread throughout the country as well as anti-drone fpv drones. I wonder if Poland will borrow some of these practices or will they conjure something entirely different.

TeaSure9394

I'm wondering if this is a good moment to do a little "testing" of our own. Next time drones go near the Polish border perhaps, with Ukrainian permission, they can be shot down in Ukrainian airspace? Just in case they fall or continue into Poland uncontrollably as a total accident of course.

It's only sensible then to simply cooperate with the good old Ukrainians to share awareness and air defences along that polish-ukrainian border. Maybe by firing 50km or so into Ukrainian air space. To prevent accidents that is, it is not a sky shield or anything like that no sir. Health and safety operation!

And then when everyone realises this is not at all entering the war, perhaps it can be extended to 100km.

Electricrain

NAVO send troops to Poland. Russia attacks Georgia…

BadBadGrades

Wow! A whole lot of nothing is happening after the incursions. Shame.

ThisIsLukkas

That headline is such nonsense. Neither NATO nor Russia are prepared for war with each other.

EmmaGregor

Thedoc_tv

Member states of the European union and NATO better be quadrupling their stockpiles of weapons and munitions, for there will come a time when their sources will be no more. General Colin Powell's strategy for the Iraq war would serve you well. Make hay while the sun shines.

GrannyFlash7373

This is a good opportunity for Ukraine. Russian military focus is solely on Ukraine. Opening another front would divide it and that would benefit Ukraine immensely.

Acrobatic_Morning17

would you look at that. The moment Poland got a taste of what Ukraine is dealing with every day, suddenly a lot of weapons were "found" to reinforce the country that is not a participant of the war. Hypocrites.

inconspicuos-user

such bollocks. Ukrainian drones sent in to desperately start ww3.

ihatethissite25

This will get it going, it's off to the bank then with the riches.

Cannabis_Goose

Please take the time to read [the rules](/r/UkrainianConflict/about/rules/) and our [policy on trolls/bots](https://redd.it/u7833q). In addition:

* We have a **zero-tolerance** policy regarding racism, stereotyping, bigotry, and death-mongering. Violators will be banned.
* **Keep it civil.** Report comments/posts that are uncivil to alert the moderators.
* **_Don't_ post low-effort comments** like joke threads, memes, slogans, or links without context.

*****

* Is `nytimes.com` an unreliable source? [**Let us know**](/r/UkrainianConflict/wiki/am/unreliable_sources).

* Help our moderators by providing context if something breaks the rules. [Send us a modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/UkrainianConflict)

*****

**Don't forget about our Discord server! - https://discord.gg/ukraine-at-war-discussion**

*****

^(Your post has not been removed, this message is applied to every successful submission.)


*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UkrainianConflict) if you have any questions or concerns.*

AutoModerator

Then shoot them down? Or am I nuts? Jesus, the lack of gonads sometimes... 


Guess barbarian invaders have always exploited more advanced societies' civility, navel gazing and self doubt.

BeginningPanda9000

Start flying European drone on peaceful missions over Moscow

zackks

There is a ruzzian drone in the White House/

Puzzleheaded-Cap1300

So why aren’t the Germans doing anything

lost_in_life_34

Be there as it may it’s obviously an idiotic quote based on the same extreme naivete that Merkel exemplified.  It has no truth.

ZealousidealAside340

Time to take a stand shoot them down or better electronic warfare, land them and show where they came from

wombat9278

ColdNorthern72

rolosrevenge

If only germany made a mobile anti airgun designed to shoot down drones....if only

octahexxer

Interesting. At this point i wonder what prevents them from dropping an F1 grenade?

BlackNovas

Why the hell dont they shoot them down. Turkey (NATO) shot down 2 Russian jets and nothing happened-except russia didnt enter their airspace again!

Own_Philosopher_9651

Big-Bass8180

Perfect opportunity to test your anti-drone drones.

This_is_Hank

Just shoot them down already.  Turkey proved that all you need to do is slap russians down and they’ll stop provoking your country.

Awkward_Ostrich_4275

They’re testing Trump reactions. 

They regularly mess with airspace to see response times and launch locations but imo these incursions are specifically to see how 

A) NATO nations respond and prep

B) testing trumps role and influence on the alliance

McRibs2024

bsproutsy

Russia can't even win in Ukraine. What r they going to do against NATO?

nickMakesDIY

Far_Out_6and_2

I try to keep in mind that a critical thing that needs to happen for Putin to meet his end goal is for the US to pull out of NATO. The way to make that happen is to destabilize the US as much as possible. And the way to do that is to enable and support a regime that will hollow out all of our institutions and pit us against each other so we’re too compromised to put up a fight.

It doesn’t really matter \*what\* kind of regime it is. If a Buddhist regime or a pro-Alanis-Morrissette regime would cause enough chaos to collapse the place, they’d focus on enabling that one. They pick the one that is most likely to mess a place up based on its existing weaknesses. In the US, it’s racism and religious fundamentalism, which should come as no surprise given that the country was founded by religious fundamentalists and had a civil war over racism. The fact that the people using racism and fundamentalism against us are racist fundamentalists themselves is a bonus. It makes it easier because everybody’s speaking the same language, and it helps speed things up because the people you've installed share your beliefs and are actively pulling for you.

I try to keep this in mind when big domestic things happen. What does it mean that Elon is Dogeing? Oh my God, everyone is being deported and our own military is invading us. What is a groyper? The answer to each specific question is interesting and worth knowing. But one big answer that applies to everything that is happening is “This is what it looks like when you install a bunch of Christian Nationalists and help them gain absolute power. The entire country falls apart and outside interests get to do what they want.”

This helps keep me from getting hung up on the details and worn out trying to analyze each event. Is the destabilization of my country proceeding apace? Yes. It sure is.

I have thought for a very long time that, while domestic forces in the US jockey for power, what Putin is waiting for is for the US to pull out of NATO. I have also thought that, once they get that done, it’s curtains for Trump. Since 2015, I’ve thought that’s what Trump was put here to do. I know I link this thing all the time, but I’m going to link it again. It explains what I think is behind so much of what’s happening lately. Putin told us exactly what he was going to do, and by God is he doing it.

Dugin’s To-Dos

[https://www.reddit.com/user/Downtown\_Statement87/comments/1ijzhak/03\_dugins\_todos/?utm\_source=share&amp;utm\_medium=web3x&amp;utm\_name=web3xcss&amp;utm\_term=1&amp;utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/user/Downtown_Statement87/comments/1ijzhak/03_dugins_todos/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button)

Downtown_Statement87

QHCprints

Putin is testing Trump, who we all know is really a big, orange TACO, PUSSY! Nato meeds to stop this BS NOW!

LeadBusy6704

There was a "leak" around tlgrm channels of some random french map with polish, romanian, french , and uk forces deployment in ukraine. 

Kinda seems that these incursions are russkies showing the range of their drones, since from what Ive seen, they are sending unarmed spy drone models to be noticed.

Like a rattlesnake making noise to let you know you're close enough to be biten.

ReasonablePossum_

Please take the time to read [the rules](/r/UkrainianConflict/about/rules/) and our [policy on trolls/bots](https://redd.it/u7833q). In addition:

* We have a **zero-tolerance** policy regarding racism, stereotyping, bigotry, and death-mongering. Violators will be banned.
* **Keep it civil.** Report comments/posts that are uncivil to alert the moderators.
* **_Don't_ post low-effort comments** like joke threads, memes, slogans, or links without context.

*****

* Is `washingtonpost.com` an unreliable source? [**Let us know**](/r/UkrainianConflict/wiki/am/unreliable_sources).

* Help our moderators by providing context if something breaks the rules. [Send us a modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/UkrainianConflict)

*****

**Don't forget about our Discord server! - https://discord.gg/ukraine-at-war-discussion**

*****

^(Your post has not been removed, this message is applied to every successful submission.)


*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UkrainianConflict) if you have any questions or concerns.*

That is exactly what the goal was here. Don't let them manipulate us like that!

zekoslav90

SuperRektT

To make them stop. We need to stop them at the source. Give long range weapons to Ukraine, and they will help with that.

Minute_Accident_2170

Currently it is Ukraine that needs the air defenses, but if the war spreads we could end up in a situation where Kiev is much better defended than other cities under attack.

There are no easy solutions. Maybe the west can continue providing air defense to Ukraine, with the understanding that they get some systems back if the need arises?

Redditreallysucks99

This was all talked about and planned at the summit with Kim and Xi imo. Trump is serving them by driving a wedge into American politics splitting their resolve.

hoobey72

Flimsy_Pudding1362

It could also lead to Polish jets starting to blow up russian drones in Ukraine although it may stop after some falling drone falls on someones house or hits people.

qwerty080

Other than Patriots, what air defenses have historically been given which were not already set for decommissioning soon? I feel like a majority of what Ukraine has received was going to be trashed anyway, no one has ever given anything which would actually be a detriment to their own security and this incursion didn't change that calculation. If anything it proves russia is intent on more than Ukraine and while russia is weak now is the time to give Ukraine the tools to deliver the final blow to russia and destroy their war machine so they cannot move westward and take more of Europe. 

"Wherever a russian soldier sets foot, that's ours", sending drones into a foreign country, armed or not, seems to be a pretext to sending a soldier.

ArtistApprehensive34

&gt;On Friday (12 September 2025), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich held a joint press conference to outline NATO’s response to the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones two days earlier. Mr Rutte announced the launch of “Eastern Sentry,” a military activity aimed to bolster NATO’s posture along the eastern flank.

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_237601.htm

HappyCamperPC

Das nächste Mal sollte man mit einer Stunde Vorwarnung eine Taurus gegen die Startpunkte der Drohnen fliegen. Klar wird da nichts signifikantes zerstört aber das ist genau so ein Zeichen wie die Drohnen selbst.

Abject-Investment-42

Then all of EU should start full scale production of AA systems. What are we waiting for?

Recent incursions of Russian drones into Polish and Romanian airspace have heightened tensions in Europe, prompting military responses and concerns about security.

Russian Drone Incursions in Europe

Why This Matters

Public Sentiment Summary

Highlighted Comments

Parties Involved

What the people want