Polish Defence Ministry says its military was ready to shoot down Russian drone near border

Cezary Tomczyk, Polish Deputy Minister of National Defence, has stated that the operational commander had issued an order to shoot down a Russian drone in the event of it crossing the border.

Source: European Pravda, citing Polish media outlet Onet

Details: Journalists in the Sejm asked Tomczyk whether Poland was ready to shoot down the Russian drone that crashed near the border on Thursday. He replied that "we were not only ready, but the operational commander had also issued an order to shoot it down in the event of it crossing the state border".

Quote: "This is an order with pre-authorisation, meaning the pilot no longer has to check with the operational commander whether the object is within range and whether they can fire but can automatically, upon detecting the object, shoot down such a drone or missile."

Details: When asked whether the principle requiring an object to be visually identified first before opening fire on it is losing relevance given the speed of jet drones, Tomczyk denied this.

As he noted, "identification in peacetime is absolutely necessary" also due to the "enormous" risk of a potential mistake and, for example, shooting down a civilian aircraft.

Background:

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that on the afternoon of 17 September, a Russian strike drone fell near the Polish border in Volyn Oblast.
• Lieutenant Colonel Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, said the drone had most likely crashed or been shot down 4 km from the Polish-Ukrainian border.
• Polish Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the country is increasing the activity of its air force amid provocations by Russia.

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