Early this morning, Vladimir Putin’s war machine squared up to NATO by firing multiple drones into Poland’s airspace.
More than eight million Poles were ordered to hide in their homes as the drones flew overhead, with debris crashing into a house after Polish defences were forced to shoot the drones down.
Ukraine raised concerns about Russia’s motives after Poland scrambled aircraft alongside allies to shoot down ‘hostile objects’ violating its airspace.
Russia is understood to have fired up several Gerbera drones on Poland.
The drones, which first burst onto the scene in July 2024, are cheaper and simplified versions of the Iranian Shahed-136.
Originally used as decoys, Russia has developed the drones’ tech to make them viable for use them in reconnaissance, signal relaying and even kamikaze missions.
Designed, developed and largely assembled by Chinese firm Skywalker Technology, they are reportedly finalised in the Alabuga drone factory in Yelabuga, Russia.
They cost just $10,000 (£7,388) to make, a fraction of the cost of Shahed-136s, as they are made from far cheaper materials.
Where Shaheds are made from fibreglass and carbon fibre, Gerbera drones are made with plywood and polystyrene foam.
They are initially slung from a catapult, they are guided to their destinations by operators.
Each Gerbera drone is 6.6ft long and 8.2ft wide. They have an operational range of around 372miles and have a maximum flight altitude of 9,800ft.
Gerberas have a top speed of 99mph. When not carrying a payload, they have a range of around 370miles.
They use Chinese components, including stabilising cameras and high-powered antennae, as well as powerful engines.
Many Gerbera drones have been reported to carry explosive charges. Soldiers on the ground have said they can carry warheads of up to 5kg (11lb), a massive reduction on the carrying capabilities of the Shahed drones.
Unlike the Iranian-made drones, Gerberas are piloted by operators who send the lightweight drones to their intended targets.
Given their low cost, they were initially used as decoy drones to confuse Ukrainian air defences and deplete them of resources, acting as a weak vanguard before a heavier attack.
But gerberas armed with explosives were first seen on the battlefield in April 2025. Last month, Ukraine’s border force said Russia was launching more and more armed Gerberas, and urged people to be cautious around them.
Two of the drones flew into Lithuanian airspace, raising fears of an imminent attack.
On July 10 a Gerbera drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, crashing near a border checkpoint.
As a precaution, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Speaker of Parliament Saulius Skvernelis were taken to a shelter.
Two weeks later, another aircraft crashed near a military training area in central Lithuania.
This one was armed with 4lbs of explosive material. Though both incidents were likely accidents, some analysts believed Belarus and Russia were testing Lithuania’s response to incidents.
Poland’s Prime Minister today warned ‘we are closer to war than any time since World War Two’ after his country was forced to shoot down Russian drones that violated its airspace.
Polish media is now reporting that Donald Tusk has requested the triggering of NATO’s Article 4, where member countries can bring an issue to the attention of the North Atlantic Council. Poland’s security council will also meet to discuss an ‘appropriate response’.
After the organisation’s patriot defence systems detected the drones with their radars, Polish F-16 fighter jets, Dutch F-35, Italian surveillance aircraft, and NATO’s MRTT mid-air refuelling aircraft all came together to counter the drones.
Warsaw blasted Russia’s ‘act of aggression’ amid fears Putin is testing the West’s defences and escalating the war in Ukraine, in Russia’s largest escalation of the war yet.
On Wednesday, Tusk held an extraordinary meeting with top officials after Russia’s actions. Senior army officials are present at the gathering.
He said a number of drones that posed direct threats to Russia were shot down in a joint effort with NATO allies, and warned that Poland is ready to react. The prime minister added that he was in communication with allies.
Tusk also spoke in parliament and said some of the drones flew in from neighbouring Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia. He also confirmed that three or four of the nineteen drones were shot down.
