Poland Warns of Russian Drone Strike Plans Targeting NATO Allies

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the Sejm on September 17, stating intelligence services have identified a Russian plan to launch drone or missile strikes against NATO countries supporting Ukraine, potentially including Poland. Tusk described the coming months through early spring as a critical phase of the war, warning that Moscow intends to disguise such attacks as accidents to paralyze NATO's collective defense response.

Tusk highlighted the deployment of new Russian jet-powered drones that travel at higher speeds and altitudes, noting that current air defenses are largely unprepared to counter them effectively. He announced plans to travel to Kyiv to discuss cooperation within an anti-ballistic coalition with President Volodymyr Zelensky, leveraging Ukrainian combat experience against these threats.

“There is a real risk that drones or other types of projectiles will enter the territory of one or several countries on the eastern flank and even cause destruction. The official narration will be that it's an accident and there is no reason for NATO to think about a response.”

The warning coincided with a massive Russian barrage on western Ukraine near the Polish border, forcing Poland to scramble fighter jets repeatedly. Polish air navigation authorities suspended operations at Lublin and Rzeszow airports in southeastern Poland due to military aviation activity, though Polish airspace was not breached.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have echoed concerns over potential sabotage and false-flag operations targeting critical infrastructure. Lithuania has deployed military units to secure key energy facilities, including an LNG terminal and a hydro plant, while Latvia has heightened security around all critical infrastructure sites.

Tusk also referenced unfulfilled promises of an energy truce previously mentioned by U.S. President Donald Trump, noting continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure near Polish border crossings. He assessed Russia's aim is to destroy Ukraine's economy and logistics on a large scale, with six key Ukrainian cities facing constant high-intensity strikes.