Alarms bells sounded this week in Europe after NATO jets scrambled to intercept an unprecedented Russian drone incursion in Poland. Now there is fresh unease on NATO’s eastern flank, as Russia and Belarus kick off major military drills to test the readiness of their armed forces.

Polish F-16 fighters, Dutch F-35 fighters, German Patriot air defense systems and an Italian AWACS surveillance aircraft were all deployed, and three of the drones were downed. Others crashed, including near villages in eastern Poland.

Poland has called for a meeting with NATO officials after invoking Article 4 of the alliance's charter and will review the incident and share the findings with its allies. Meanwhile, the fallout from the airspace breach continues to heighten tensions between Russia and the West.

NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones that violated Polish airspace during an attack on neighboring Ukraine early on Wednesday, as the military alliance denounced Moscow for “absolutely dangerous” behavior that ratcheted up tensions to a new level.

Nato fighter jets shot down Russian drones over Poland in the first ever direct engagement between the Western alliance and Moscow.