Polish authorities detained a 21-year-old Ukrainian man and a 17-year-old Belarusian woman after a drone flew over Belweder Palace and the nearby prime minister’s residence in Warsaw, officials said Tuesday.
The incident happened Monday around 7 p.m. and lasted several minutes before officers from the State Protection Service (SOP) neutralized the drone.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the drone was spotted by patrols near the buildings, which are considered sensitive government sites.
According to Polsat News, the police seized the device and searched the suspects’ apartments. Their legal status in Poland is still being verified.
Prosecutors said the two have not yet been formally questioned. They are suspected of violating Poland’s Aviation Law.
Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesman for the Special Services Coordinator, said the pair is cooperating with investigators.
He stressed that while Poland’s Internal Security Agency is monitoring the case, there is no evidence of espionage.
“These are young people. Perhaps it was carelessness, ignorance, or an attempt to make a video,” he said.
Authorities reminded the public that drone bans are marked with special signs and warnings on devices. “Let’s obey the restrictions; it is in our common interest,” Dobrzyński said.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions after 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace on Sept. 10, temporarily shutting down at least four airports including Rzeszów, Lublin, Warsaw, and Modlin.
NATO aircraft sent to intercept the drones included Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS reconnaissance planes and refueling aircraft.
Elsewhere along the alliance’s eastern frontier, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania have all reported Russian drone incursions.
In response, NATO countries elected to move troops and fighter jets eastwards as part of its Eastern Sentry mission to bolster the military alliance’s eastern flank after the incursion.
Denmark will contribute two F-16 fighter jets to boost Poland’s air defense as well as a warship, while France will send three Rafale fighter jets and Germany has promised four Eurofighters, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The UK announced on Monday, Sept. 15 that it would deploy Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets to join the Eastern Sentry, supported by a RAF Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.