Missile debris found in Poland week after Russia's mass airspace violations, officials say

A fragment from a Russian drone was found washed up on a shore in Latvia, while pieces of a missile which had possibly been used to shoot the drone down have been found in Poland, the two countries' authorities said.

The information comes more than a week between 19-23 drones violated Poland's airspace overnight into 10 September after allegedly being launched from Russia.

The piece of a tail section of the Gerbera drone was found near the western village of Varve.

Latvia’s Defence Minister Andris Spruds said, quoting the military, that there is no explosive material in the wreckage.

Designed as a decoy drone to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences, the Gerbera is made of foam and plywood and has a flight range of up to 600 kilometres.

Gerbera drones are believed to have been used in the violation of Poland’s airspace.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has instructed the defence and interior ministries to coordinate with Warsaw to establish whether the drone is one of those detected last week.

"Our priority has been to strengthen the eastern border, while it is clear that protecting the Baltic Sea coast by installing the necessary sensors is equally important," Silina wrote in a post on X.

Military police in Poland said on Thursday that missile fragments, possibly from a weapon used to shoot down a drone, had been discovered in Choiny, around 70 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

The police gave no information about damage or casualties but said a forensic investigation is ongoing.

Choiny is in the eastern Lublin province, which borders Ukraine, and the majority of the Russian drones that flew into Polish airspace were discovered there.

Warsaw said that Polish and allied aircraft shot down at least three Russian drones during the incursion.

No casualties were reported, but a house in Lublin province was damaged.

Following the violation of Polish airspace, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the formation of the Eastern Sentry programme, which aims to deter further Russian incursions and show solidarity with Poland.

"We see drones violating our airspace. Whether it was intentional or not, it is unacceptable. The allies have expressed full solidarity with Poland. It is crucial to counter aggression and defend every member of the Alliance," the NATO chief said.

Meanwhile on Monday, Romania condemned what it called Moscow's "irresponsible actions" after a Russian drone allegedly entered its airspace during an aerial attack on Ukraine.