Former British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has called on the United Kingdom to shoot down Russian drones targeting Ukraine, urging a more proactive military response amid increasing threats to NATO’s eastern members. Speaking after a recent Russian drone strike near the Ukrainian-Polish border, Wallace emphasized that British forces should engage Russian warheads over Ukrainian territory to prevent attacks on neighboring countries.

Russia has escalated the use of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles against Ukraine and its border states, including Poland, Romania, and Moldova. The call to take direct action comes as Polish officials have repeatedly urged NATO allies to bolster defensive measures against Russian incursions, a move that has not yet resulted in a significant shift in alliance policy.

Wallace, who oversaw much of the UK’s support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion, stated that intercepting incoming missiles or drones over Ukraine aligns with international law and does not necessarily constitute escalation, given the threat is over Ukrainian airspace rather than Russian territory. His comments follow a near-miss incident in which former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, and several European officials were narrowly spared by a Russian drone strike.

Ukraine experts have echoed the urgency of a firmer response. Dr. Olga Matveieva of the University of Paderborn described NATO’s continued restraint amid Russia’s “incessant provocations” as increasingly untenable. On the ground, Ukrainian forces and civilian populations grow frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of decisive action from the West.

Currently, NATO policy restricts missile defense systems from engaging Russian projectiles until they have entered alliance airspace, a stance some member states maintain to avoid escalating the conflict. However, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a leading U.S.-based think tank, argue that this approach is outdated, especially as Russia’s attacks intensify across bordering nations. The institute has called on NATO to increase delivery of advanced air defense systems to Ukraine and enhance capabilities to target Russian drone and missile launch sites.

Tensions between the UK and Russia have worsened recently, marked by the withdrawal of Russia’s UK ambassador, Andrey Kelin, after seven years of service. This diplomatic move followed Britain’s decision to supply Kyiv with long-range missiles capable of striking targets inside Russia.

Separately, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the death of a second British soldier in Ukraine following a road traffic incident on Saturday. The soldier’s identity and further details have not been released. In December, paratrooper Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, was killed during a non-combat incident while testing a defensive capability away from frontline operations.