Poland has pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the recent incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace may have been accidental.
“We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X on Friday.
At a press conference, Tusk stated that Poland’s intelligence services and military had sufficient information to identify the source of the drones.
“They knew who was behind it, where the drones took off from, and what the intentions were,” he said.
The incursion occurred earlier this week during a Russian attack on Ukraine. Poland reported that 19 Russian drones deliberately entered its airspace, prompting a swift response from the Polish Air Force and NATO allies to shoot down the unmanned aircraft.
It marked the first time Russian drones were intercepted and destroyed over NATO territory.
Trump had earlier commented that the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones “could have been a mistake.”
He added, “I’m not happy about that whole situation, but hopefully it’s going to come to an end.”
Since taking office in January, Trump has faced criticism for allegedly being too lenient toward Russia and susceptible to manipulation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Military experts reviewing the incident said it was unlikely the drones entered Polish airspace by accident.
According to NATO sources, at least one of the drones was flying toward a military aid distribution center located at the Polish airport in Rzeszów.