RAF deploys fighter jets in response to 'aggression from Vladimir Putin'

The UK will deploy RAF jets to Poland, the prime minister has revealed.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, Sir Keir Starmer said Britain would provide “further air defence over Poland” after multiple Russian drones violated the country's airspace and had to be shot down by NATO forces last week.

He said: “That is the right thing to do. The wrong thing to do would be to ignore this increased aggression from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, from Russia. Because this wasn’t a one-off. You saw only a few weeks ago the bombing of the British Council in Kyiv, the attacking of the EU embassy, and the direct hits on the Council of Ministers in Kyiv itself.”

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He added: “It’s absolutely clear that the Russians are ramping up the aggression. It’s very important that, with our NATO allies, we respond appropriately to that and that’s what we’re doing today.”

At least three drones were intercepted by Polish and NATO aircraft, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that a total of 19 drone incursions were recorded.

Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, will join Nato’s “Eastern Sentry” mission, flying over Poland alongside aircraft from Denmark, France and Germany.

They will be supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The UK is fully committed to playing its part in Eastern Sentry, increasing our military presence on Nato’s eastern flank even further.”

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