Ben Wallace, former UK defense secretary, advocates for Britain to shoot down Russian drones over Ukraine to prevent attacks on NATO countries. This position follows recent missile strikes near the Polish border where a train was hit while Western officials were present, narrowly avoiding injury. Dr. Olga Matveieva and Peter Zalmayev agree that NATO must take decisive action against Russia's provocations, emphasizing that current policies of waiting for Russian warheads to enter NATO airspace before engaging are no longer sufficient as Russia targets neighboring countries more aggressively.
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Story summary
Ben Wallace, former UK Defence Secretary, advocates for Britain to shoot down Russian drones over Ukraine before they enter NATO territory to protect member states like Poland and Romania. Russia has been increasingly targeting Ukraine's neighbors, raising concerns among NATO allies. While some countries support this stance, others argue that engaging enemy targets within the conflict zone would escalate tensions. The Institute for the Study of War suggests current NATO policies are no longer viable given Russia’s aggressive tactics. Wallace asserts such actions comply with international law and are necessary to deter further Russian aggression against NATO members.
Written for “UK Defends Against Russian Drones” on 2026-09-17,
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Leaning score +0.45 for article 10618 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-16
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Britain should blow Vladimir Putin's deadly drones out of the sky over Ukraine, a former defence secretary said.
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secretary → see → Ukraine
Ben Wallace backed calls for UK forces to engage Russian warheads heading towards Nato territory to prevent Kremlin attacks on Ukraine's neighbours.
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forces → back → neighbours
Poland has led calls for its allies to step up for months, only to be ignored by its partners in the defensive alliance.
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allies → lead → alliance
But last night, following a strike that narrowly missed Boris Johnson and other former leaders near the Polish border, Mr Wallace urged Downing Street to meet the challenge.
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Wallace → follow → challenge
Russia has increasingly targeted Ukraine's neighbours, including Poland, Romania and Moldova, with drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
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Russia → target → drones
But Putin is likely to react furiously to Britain and others joining the conflict in the skies over Ukraine for the first time – should Nato change its policy.
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Nato → react → policy
Mr Wallace, who led international support for Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion, told the Daily Mail: 'It is the logical next step.
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It → lead → Mail
There is nothing to stop a country shooting down incoming missiles or drones over Ukraine.
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country → be → Ukraine
'It is in line with international law and can't be viewed as escalatory as the drones are over Ukraine, not Russia.
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drones → view → Ukraine
It comes after Mr Johnson, the UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell and European officials narrowly avoided a Russian drone that struck a train on the Ukrainian-Polish border.
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that → come → border
They had disembarked at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing often used by politicians visiting the war zone.
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They → disembark → zone
Shortly after another train nearby was hit.
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train → hit → ?
Ukraine expert Dr Olga Matveieva at the University of Paderborn, in Germany, said ignoring Russia's 'incessant provocations' was 'no longer an option' for Nato.
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ignoring → say → Nato
Ben Wallace backed calls for UK forces to engage Russian warheads heading towards Nato territory to prevent Kremlin attacks on Ukraine's neighbours
Boris Johnson, the UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell and European officials narrowly avoided a Russian drone that struck a train on the Ukrainian-Polish border
On the ground Ukrainians are growing tired of the West's failure to step up to meet Russia's threat.
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Ukrainians → back → threat
Peter Zalmayev, Fellow at The Aspen Institute Kyiv, added: 'The West needs to stop being submissive.
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West → add → Institute
Appropriate, firm action should be taken in response to such brazen attacks, and shooting down Russian drones heading towards NATO territory while they are still over Ukrainian airspace should be the first step.'
Nato's policy has so far been to wait for Russian warheads to enter its airspace before engaging.
The Mail understands some member states insist the policy should be maintained, as to engage enemy targets over the conflict zone itself would be escalatory.
The Institute for the Study of War, a leading US think-tank, says that tactic is no longer viable as the Kremlin increasingly aggressively targets Nato states such as Poland and Romania.
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Kremlin → take → Poland
It also called on Nato members to provide Ukraine with more air defence capabilities and the ability to strike Russian drone and missile launchers.
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It → call → launchers
Putin has reacted with hostility to recent UK efforts to support Ukraine, such as providing it with long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia's borders.
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Putin → react → borders
Last month, Russia's long-serving UK ambassador Andrey Kelin was withdrawn after seven years without a successor appointed.
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successor → serve → years
A second British soldier has been killed on operations in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday.
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Ministry → kill → Defence
The death on Saturday followed a 'road traffic incident', officials said, but gave no further details.
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officials → follow → details
In December paratrooper Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, was killed 'testing a new defensive capability away from the front lines'.
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Hooley → kill → lines
The Aporia
