Poland has a “constitutional duty” to neutralise Russian missiles heading towards Poland while they are still in Ukrainian airspace, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told the Financial Times in an interview published on September 2.

Nato has provided Ukraine with military help against Russian aggression but has said it will not be drawn into a confrontation with Moscow. A member state like Poland possibly shooting down Russian missiles outside of ato’s airspace could run counter to the alliance’s preferred strategy. According to Sikorski, however, every Nato member also has their national considerations to factor in.

"Membership in Nato does not override each country’s responsibility for the protection of its airspace—it’s our constitutional duty," Sikorski told the Financial Times.

"I’m personally of the view that when hostile missiles are on course to enter our airspace, it would be legitimate self-defence [to strike them] because once they do cross into our airspace, the risk of debris injuring someone is significant,” Sikorski also said.

Poland and Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement in July in which Poland pledged to provide “several substantial military assistance packages” and … continue with robust support” for Ukraine in 2024 and in the next decade, according to the agreement.

Military assistance and cooperation might include Poland’s considering the delivery of a squadron of MIG-29s fighter jets to Ukraine and intercepting missiles and drones fired in the direction of Poland in Ukraine’s airspace, according to the agreement.

The debate about Russian missiles was reignited again in Poland after a suspected Russian drone crossed into Polish airspace on August 26 before disappearing from radar shortly afterwards. It remains unclear if the object crashed somewhere near the border or flew back to Ukraine.

Sikorski’s stating Poland could attack Russian missiles over Ukraine meets Kyiv’s expectations of Nato countries becoming more active in the conflict, for example via providing air defence coverage over western Ukraine from batteries stationed on Nato soil. Ukraine has also repeatedly called for a no-fly zone over its territory.

Nato keeps rejecting these requests, citing the potential for direct conflict with Russian forces.

Sikorski appears to have popular backing for his idea. In a recent poll by the SW Research Institute for the Rzeczpospolita newspaper, nearly 59% of Poles were in favour of Poland intercepting objects flying into Poland from Ukraine while in Ukrainian airspace. 

Respondents also indicated that the interception should take place even without immediate clarity if the objects are military or civilian.

Some 22% of the surveyed people said 'no' to the idea, while just over 19% had no clear opinion, the poll results also showed.