London, UK, 16 September 2025 —
The United Kingdom has summoned the Russian ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, to deliver a sharp rebuke over what the Foreign Office has called an “unprecedented violation” of NATO airspace by Russian drones. The move follows recent incursions over Poland and Romania, which have significantly heightened tensions on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The U.K. Foreign Office issued a strong statement condemning the actions as “utterly unacceptable.” The statement highlighted that Russian drones had violated Polish airspace on multiple occasions last week before a further incursion into Romanian airspace on Saturday. NATO allies, including the U.K., see these incidents as a deliberate provocation and a serious threat to European security. In a show of support for its allies, the U.K. announced it will be sending Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets to help defend Polish airspace as part of a NATO air defense mission.
This latest diplomatic action comes at a particularly tense moment. Just days ago, Poland shot down Russian drones that had entered its airspace, marking the first time a NATO member has taken such action during Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Polish government has since said that the incident brought the country “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two.”
While Russia has denied that the drone incursions were deliberate and has suggested that they went astray due to electronic jamming, NATO officials have dismissed this explanation. The alliance has responded by launching a new defense plan, “Eastern Sentry,” aimed at bolstering its defenses along the eastern flank.
The U.K.’s move to summon the Russian ambassador is a formal diplomatic protest that signals the seriousness with which London views Moscow’s actions. It serves as a clear warning that further incursions will be met with a firm and unified response from the NATO alliance.
Headline Points:
* UK Summons Russian Ambassador: Russia’s ambassador to the U.K. has been summoned to address what the Foreign Office calls “unprecedented” airspace violations.
* Targeted Incursions: The diplomatic protest is in response to multiple drone incursions into the airspace of NATO members Poland and Romania.
* NATO Responds with Force: The alliance has launched a new defense plan, “Eastern Sentry,” and the U.K. is deploying RAF fighter jets to help defend Polish airspace.
* Heightened Tensions: The incidents, including Poland shooting down Russian drones, have significantly raised concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict.
