Poland has urged NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine following a series of Russian drone incursions into alliance airspace. Speaking to Frankfurter Allgemeine on September 15, 2025, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski argued that the measure would better shield NATO members by intercepting threats before they crossed into allied territory.
“Protecting Ukrainian skies is also protecting NATO skies,” Sikorski said, pointing to repeated violations of Polish and Romanian airspace in recent weeks.
The most serious incident occurred on the night of September 9 to 10, 2025, when around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Warsaw deemed the intrusion deliberate and summoned the Russian ambassador, joined by the United Kingdom and Norway, in condemning the act as “totally unacceptable.”
Romania also reported drones straying into its territory for over 50 minutes before heading back into Ukraine.
NATO launches ‘Eastern Sentry’
In response, NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry to reinforce its eastern flank. The operation brings together air assets from several member states to deter and, if necessary, intercept further violations.
Germany
Germany had already stepped up its commitment on September 11, 2025, announcing that it would extend its mission to safeguard Polish skies and double its Eurofighter presence from two to four. The additional aircraft, drawn from the Luftwaffe’s Tactical Air Wing 71 “Richthofen,” are operating under NATO command with a focus on integrating German surveillance and electronic warfare assets into the defensive shield.
France
France followed with a politically charged decision. On September 11, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the deployment of three Rafale B fighters from Escadron de Chasse 2/4 “La Fayette.” These jets are based at Air Base 113 Saint-Dizier–Robinson and as part of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS), are certified to carry nuclear weapons. They arrived at Mińsk Mazowiecki Air Base near Warsaw on September 13, 2025, just 115 kilometers from the Belarusian border.
⚡ Réactivité.
✈️ Puissance.
🤝 Solidarité.Trois #Rafale déployés en Pologne avec le soutien de nos A400M Atlas, pour défendre l’espace aérien du flanc Est de l’Europe #EasternSentry.
L’@Armee_de_lair et de l’Espace : toujours au rendez-vous. pic.twitter.com/9vtohycQgO
— Chef d’état-major armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (@CEM_AAE) September 13, 2025
United Kingdom
On September 15, 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters had deployed to Poland, supported by Voyager tankers. They began air defense patrols the following day. The Typhoons, drawn from RAF Coningsby, are tasked with quick reaction alert duties, ensuring that any suspicious drone or aircraft activity near Polish airspace can be intercepted at short notice.
A divisive proposal
Calls for a NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine are likely to prove controversial within the alliance. Analysts warn that such a measure would mean confronting Russian aircraft directly, a move Moscow has said it would treat as an act of war.
Beyond the risk of escalation, enforcing a no-fly zone would also require neutralizing Russian air defenses in Russia and Belarus, constant patrols by fighters, tankers, and AWACS aircraft, and clear rules of engagement, all of which would stretch NATO resources and expose crews to high risk.
For now, NATO is reinforcing Poland’s defenses under Operation Eastern Sentry. But Poland’s demand for a no-fly zone highlights the alliance’s central dilemma: how to reassure frontline members while avoiding a direct military clash with Russia.
