President Zelensky offered support to Poland and EU allies against Russian drone incursions, warning some aircraft may be launched from the Baltic Sea.
Speaking at a security symposium in Warsaw, Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that his nation was using Ukraine's expertise to provide "to Poland and all our partners to build a joint, truly reliable shield against Russian aerial threats."
He maintained that "if Russia loses the ability to strike in the skies, it will be unable to continue the war" and claimed that his nation's military "can counter all types of Russian drones and missiles."
Over the past month, drone invasions have occurred in Poland, Romania, and Denmark, exposing weaknesses in NATO's response capabilities.
The drone invasions were so large, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, that "the entire western, transatlantic community" needed to realize "this is war."
He added:
“We didn’t want it, it’s sometimes strange, a war of new type, but it’s still a war.”
Since Moscow's full-scale invasion began more than three years ago, Ukraine has been the target of nightly Russian drone and missile attacks. It can take down over 90% of the incoming drones using a combination of air defense systems, jet patrols, jamming, and other tactics.
Over the course of the last week, unknown drones have caused at least three disruptions to Danish airspace, leading to the closure of Copenhagen Airport on Monday and two smaller airports on Wednesday. They were spotted over a military air base at Karup on Friday.
Authorities in the nation have not been able to identify the exact culprit, and none of the drones have been shot down. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen blamed Russia on Monday.
“The authorities cannot conclude who is behind the hybrid attacks. But we can state that there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that is Russia,”
she said on social media.
Danish forces have so far failed to shoot down any of the drones, which would allow an examination of the wreckage. Zelenskyy indicated that there was growing evidence they were being launched from tankers in the Baltic, which would leave Denmark and other nearby countries little time to respond.
“If tankers used by Russia are serving as drone platforms, then such tankers should not be free to operate in the Baltic. This is de facto Russia’s military activity against European countries, so Europe has the right to close straits and sea routes to protect itself,”
the Ukrainian leader told the conference in Warsaw.
During two European summits in Copenhagen this week, the UK, France, Germany, and Sweden said on Monday that they will assist Denmark in enhancing its security. EU leaders and the larger 47-member European PoliticalCommunity are scheduled to visit the city on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
During a fringe session at the UK Labour party convention, Defence Secretary John Healey stated that Britain has also sent a counter drone technology to Denmark.
France would send a military helicopter and an additional 35 troops to Denmark, while Germany said it would send 40 soldiers to assist in detecting, identifying, and countering drones. To improve security on the ground, Sweden said it will send more police, radars, and a counter drone system.
Ionut Moşteanu, Romania's defense minister, said the Warsaw gathering that fresh drone remnants were discovered on Monday close to Tulcea, a city located just over four miles from the Ukrainian border. Two weeks ago, Romania reported that a Shahed attack drone had entered its airspace for fifty minutes before returning to Ukraine.
Four airports had to close after roughly 20 unarmed Russian Geran decoy drones entered Poland a few days prior. There were no casualties, but after Polish and Dutch jets rushed to respond, three or four drones were shot down—a comparatively small percentage compared to what Ukraine accomplishes.
Russia bombarded Ukraine for 12 hours on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
What legal issues arise from shooting down drones over allied airspace?
According to international and many national laws, drones are classified as aircraft. This means that they are subject to aviation regulations and protections that prohibit, Criminate, damage, destroy, disable, or interfere with aircraft. In the United States, for example, under federal law, (18 U.S.C. § 32), shooting down a drone can be treated as an act of sabotage of an aircraft, for which a person can be subjected to 20 years' imprisonment.
Nations have sovereignty over their airspace. Unauthorized incursions of drones can be violations of territorial airspace.
States can intercept or seize unauthorized drones, however, they must comply with the principles of International Law, including the principle enshrined in the United Nations Charter, prohibiting the use of force, except in self-defense, or with the United Nations authorization.