NATO Scrambled Norwegian Fighter Jets For First Time Against Russian Attack

NATO scrambled Norwegian fighter jets stationed in Poland for the first time on Wednesday, the alliance’s air command said, after Russia had a “massive” number of aircraft operating against Ukraine.

Polish authorities had said on Wednesday that fighter jets were scrambled after “intense long-range aviation activity” was detected from Russia early on Wednesday.

Ukraine reported waves of drone and missile attacks across the country, including in western regions bordering NATO territory. Russia acknowledged it had targeted Ukraine overnight.

Why It Matters

This is the first time Norwegian jets have been scrambled to protect Poland’s airspace, the NATO air command said in a brief statement on Thursday.

Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine have occasionally spilled over into NATO members like Poland and Romania when Moscow has targeted its neighbor’s western regions.

Although NATO countries have not treated these incidents as attacks on the alliance, member states are collectively obliged to respond to assaults on any one alliance nation with full force, raising fears of the conflict in Ukraine escalating.

The Polish military has scrambled fighter jets several times in recent weeks, including on Christmas Day, when Moscow carried out extensive strikes across Ukraine.

NATO countries bordering Ukraine occasionally use jets belonging to other nations’ militaries to respond to Russian activity. Two Spanish air force F-18 jets responded along with Romanian F-16s to reports of an unknown object entering Romania in October.

What To Know

NATO’s air command said two of Norway’s advanced F-35 jets stationed in Poland were “scrambled in response to a massive number of airborne [Russian] aircraft” on Wednesday.

Poland’s military command had not specified the aircraft scrambled at the time, but added its ground-based air defenses and radars were put on the “highest state of readiness.”

A spokesperson for the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces told Newsweek that “intense long-range aviation activity” from Russia had been detected early on Wednesday.

“The Russian activity was related to air and missile strikes on objects located on the territory of Ukraine, especially western parts of the country,” the spokesperson said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow had carried out a “massive attack” on the country’s energy infrastructure.

Kyiv’s air force said the Kremlin had launched a “combined” attack on Ukraine overnight, using 74 drones as well as ballistic and cruise missiles. The air force said Moscow had launched Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 jets, and Kh-101 and Kh-55 missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers, plus other missiles from unspecified tactical aircraft.

Moscow had focused on the country’s energy facilities, especially gas infrastructure in the northeastern Kharkiv and western Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, the air force said, adding there had been “damage” to the sites.

Russia said it had hit Ukraine’s “critical gas and energy infrastructure,” saying its objectives were “achieved.”

Who Said What

Russia’s Defense Ministry in a statement posted to messaging app Telegram on Wednesday: “This morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a group strike with high-precision weapons and strike unmanned aerial vehicles on critical gas and energy infrastructure facilities that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine. The strike’s objective was achieved. All designated facilities were hit.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement on social media: “Another massive Russian attack. It’s the middle of winter, and the target for the Russians remains unchanged: our energy infrastructure. Among their objectives were gas and energy facilities that sustain normal life for our people.”

What Happens Next

Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine—and vice versa—will continue until it becomes clear how President-elect Donald Trump plans to handle ceasefire talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Extensive Russian strikes in western Ukraine will likely trigger more NATO jets being scrambled in the near future.