UK fighter jets fly over Poland as Czech president warns Europe ‘teeters on edge’

RAF jets flew to Poland this weekend to patrol the skies, after Russian drones crossed the border and were shot down earlier this month.

The move came during heightened tensions, with the Czech president Petr Pavel calling for more Russian aircraft to be shot down if necessary, even if this means ‘teetering on the edge of conflict’.

Two British fighter jets took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night, supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft. They returned to the UK early on Saturday morning after the mission ‘to patrol Polish skies and deter and defend against aerial threats from Russia’.

In comments quoted in Czech media, former Army general Mr Pavel said: ‘What has happened in recent days in Poland, Estonia, what has been happening in Ukraine for the fourth year is a matter for all of us, because if we do not stand together, sooner or later it will happen to us too.’

He said that if Russia behaved aggressively then NATO must respond in kind: ‘And that includes a military response. Russia will very quickly realize that it has made a mistake and has crossed acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, it is teetering on the edge of conflict, but it is simply impossible to give in to evil.’

Announcing the RAF mission last night, the Ministry of Defence said it was to strengthen defences on NATO’s eastern flank following the ‘reckless’ drone incursion on September 9, when around 19 drones flew over the border from Belarus.

It marked the first time since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that NATO had directly engaged with Russian assets, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk calling it ‘the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two’.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: ‘RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: NATO airspace will be defended.

‘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.

‘This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security – making us secure at home and strong abroad.’

Today marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a milestone commemorated in a service attended by Sir Keir Starmer.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said: ‘Our partnership with NATO has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAF’s first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UK’s steadfast commitment to NATO and its allies.

‘RAF Typhoons, supported by Voyager air-air refuelling aircraft, joined allies along the eastern flank to bolster NATO’s defence and deterrence.

‘We remain agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range.’

The UK’s mission over Poland comes amid heightened tensions elsewhere in Europe, with Estonia saying on Friday that three Russian military jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes in an ‘unprecedentedly brazen’ incursion.

Healey condemned the ‘latest reckless and dangerous activity’ calling it ‘the third violation of NATO airspace in recent days’.

Russia denied its jets violated Estonian airspace, saying they flew over neutral waters.

Timeline of escalations this month

NATO has been tested this month by Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is now coming close to its borders than ever before since the initial invasion on February 24, 2022.

September 10: Poland downs Russian drones
Poland reports around 19 Russian drones entering its airspace from Belarus during a major strike on Ukraine. Some of them are shot down by Poland, making this the first direct military action by NATO against Russian assets since the war began. Poland invokes Nato’s Article 4, calling for member states to consult on the development.

September 12 to 16: Zapad 2025 military drills
Russia and Belarus hold joint war games known as ‘Zapad’ (the West). The massive drills, held every four years, involve troops fighting off a mock attack against the two countries, whose alliance is known as the Union State, and then ‘crushing’ the enemy. New footage shows Russia’s supersonic long-range strategic nuclear bomber the Tu-22M3 carrying out a strike on a simulated enemy, ‘disrupting the control system and destroying critical objects’.

September 19: Estonia airspace violation
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets enter Estonian airspace for 12 minutes over the Gulf of Finland. Estonia calls the incursion ‘unprecedentedly brazen’ and also invokes NATO Article 4. NATO scrambles Italian F-35s stationed at a base there to intercept them. But Russia denies entering Estonian airspace, saying it flew over international waters.

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