ISW connects drone crashes in Moldova and Romania, a Starlink fire in Poland, and a Berlin airport shutdown into one Russian pattern

Recent incidents across four European nations—Moldova, Romania, Poland, and Germany—appear to be connected by a pattern of Russian aggression, according to the International Center for Military Studies (ISW). While official attribution has not been made, the Kremlin is using drones, arson, and undersea cable sabotage to undermine European defense and logistical capabilities.

In Moldova and Romania, four Russian drones targeted energy facilities and border crossings. Ukrainian forces downed three, while the fourth drone crashed in Cernița, Moldova. In Romania, another Gerbera drone entered airspace, crashed near Solca, and was identified as a Russian drone. Poland evacuated two border crossings for 30 minutes after a Gerbera drone entered its airspace and was subsequently shot down.

A Starlink ground station in central Poland experienced a fire, causing a power system and backup generator outage. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated the incident was likely sabotage aimed at cutting internet access to Ukraine. The station is now functional again.

Berlin's Brandenburg airport briefly suspended operations for 45 minutes following a reported drone sighting, though German authorities could not confirm the incident. ISW connects these events to Russia's broader strategy of provocative actions against European defense and logistical infrastructure.

Western intelligence sources warn of further Russian aggression, including potential drone attacks on Spain, France, and Italy, intensified hybrid war efforts, and sabotage risks. These warnings suggest that Russia is diversifying its attack platforms and methods, potentially preparing for a limited military strike on a NATO border state in the coming months.