UK fighter jets over Poland send warning shot to Putin

The UK has sent fighter jets to Poland in a clear warning shot to Vladimir Putin that Western nations will not tolerate Russia's repeated incursions into Nato territory.

- KATE DEVLIN WHITEHALL EDITOR

The RAF Typhoons took part in a Nato operation to bolster European security after Russia provoked global outrage when its jets flew into Estonian airspace on Friday.

Defence secretary John Healey said the use of British fighter planes sent “a clear signal: Nato airspace will be defended”.

It comes after Polish fighter jets were scrambled on Friday night to protect the country’s airspace as Russia unleashed a massive aerial attack on sites across Ukraine.

Polish aircraft were at the “highest state of readiness”, the country’s operational command said on X (Twitter), as more than 600 drones and missiles were fired at Ukraine overnight in a bombardment which killed at least three and injured dozens.

European countries are on high alert following a string of Russian breaches into Nato territory, following drone incursions into Poland and Romania, as Putin’s forces continue to provoke the alliance’s defences.

The latest breach saw three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets enter Estonian territory where they remained without permission for 12 minutes, the Estonian foreign ministry said on Friday.