Poland warns Russia is planning drone or rocket strikes on NATO territory

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cautioned on Thursday that Russia is developing plans for hybrid attacks using drones or rockets against European nations supporting Ukraine, including Poland. Tusk delivered his remarks during a speech to the Polish parliament. He warned that Russia could falsely claim these attacks were "accidents" to weaken NATO's resolve to defend the targeted country.

Tusk stated that there is a significant risk of drones or projectiles entering the territory of one or more eastern flank nations, potentially causing damage. He explained that Russia is increasingly employing jet-powered drones, which are harder to detect by air defenses before reaching their targets. Tusk had previously warned of the possibility of Russia launching a severe hybrid assault on a NATO nation, emphasizing that his recent intelligence gathered from NATO, Ukrainian, and U.S. agencies, including the CIA, has made his predictions more precise.

In recent days, Tusk has claimed Russia's focus is on striking border crossings between Ukraine and its European neighbors to disrupt supply routes to Ukraine. Four such incidents occurred on Poland's border with Ukraine within the past week, and several others transpired in recent weeks on Ukraine's border with Moldova. Currently, Russia is not ready for peace negotiations "without Ukraine's complete submission," Tusk said.

He added that Poland supplied Ukraine with essential aid during last winter's energy infrastructure attacks, but if border crossings were destroyed, it would prove difficult for Warsaw to offer similar assistance this coming winter. Tusk emphasized that Russia's objective is to inflict maximum damage on Ukraine's economy and logistics.