I am writing to urgently draw your attention and the attention of the members of the Security Council to a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as of international customary law, committed by Russia and Belarus.

As a result of last night’s attack by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, between the evening of September 9 and morning of September 10, there was an unprecedented violation of the airspace of Poland, and also of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. Nineteen cases of incursion by Russian drone-type objects into Polish airspace were recorded, fired from the territory of Russia and Belarus. The drones, which could have posed a threat, were shot down pre-emptively.

It was the first time, since the beginning of Russian full-scale aggression on Ukraine in 2022, that Polish territorial integrity has been violated on such an unprecedented, massive scale. We have no doubt that this was not accidental.

This marks a new stage in the escalation of Russia’s war of aggression. The situation brings the whole region closer to conflict than ever before.

In light of the above-mentioned, in accordance with Articles 34 and 35 of the Charter, Poland requests the Security Council to convene an emergency meeting without delay to address yet another violation of the prohibition of the use of force, committed by Russia and Belarus.

At the same time, I have the honour to request that Poland be invited to participate in the meeting and to deliver a statement, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council.

Furthermore, I kindly request that the Secretary-General be invited to brief the Council on this matter at the meeting.

I would be grateful if the present letter could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.