poland russia dronesUK’s Defence Secretary John Healey said that deployment of RAF fighter jets over Poland sent “a clear signal, NATO airspace will be defended”. (Representational Photo/ X/ @RoyalAirForce)

The United Kingdom deployed Royal Air Force (RAF) typhoon jets over the skies of Poland on Friday as part of the NATO air defence mission amid Russia’s drones entering Poland’s air space, the country’s defence ministry has said. Britain’s fighter jets were deployed over Poland as part of NATO’s mission to strengthen the eastern flank.

It is for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, a multi-country operation protected Poland due to alleged violations of NATO airspace by the Russian drones in the past week.

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Tensions have escalated following repeated incursions of Russian drones in NATO members’ airspace this month, including Romania, Estonia and Poland. However, Moscow has downplayed or denied the violations.

UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey said that deployment of RAF fighter jets over Poland sent “a clear signal, NATO airspace will be defended”. Healey added, “I’m proud of the outstanding British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our allies from reckless Russian aggression,” BBC reported.

After reports claimed there were several more provocations by the Russian side on Friday, a NATO-led mission under Operation Eastern Sentry was launched that involved British, Danish, French and German aircraft to proactively protect Poland in the early hours of Saturday.

NATO had announced Operation Eastern Sentry on September 10 following 19 drone incursions into Polish airspace by Russian-led drones.

According to the UK’s defence ministry, at least two fighter jets departed from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night to patrol Poland’s skies and the pair was supported by RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft and they returned to the UK early on Saturday.

It was the first time that a NATO member, Poland, engaged with Russia drones since the Ukraine war began in 2022 after at least 19 Russian drones breached Poland’s national airspace on a single day and Warsaw shot down at least three of them.

(with inputs from BBC)