Poland has issued a furious condemnation of Moscow, branding a violation of its airspace by Russian drones as a deliberate 'act of aggression' amid rising fears the Kremlin is testing NATO's defences.
The dramatic escalation occurred as Vladimir Putin launched the largest military exercises in Europe, simulating nuclear strikes on Western targets. Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that all signs indicate a planned provocation by the Russian Federation, with the object of the operation being to test the reaction of the defence systems of Poland and NATO.
Deliberate Provocation or Strategic Test?
The incident, which took place near the Ukrainian border, saw a Russian drone enter Polish territory for several minutes. Polish armed forces were immediately activated, with aircraft scrambled to intercept the intruder. This breach is seen not as an accident of war but a calculated move by the Kremlin to gauge the alliance's response times and resolve.
Putin's Nuclear Sabre-Rattling
The airspace violation coincides with the beginning of massive Russian military drills, named Thunder 2024, involving practice for massive nuclear strikes. The exercises are taking place in regions bordering NATO members, a move analysts describe as the most significant escalation in days, designed to intimidate the West and signal Russia's readiness for a broader conflict.
This combination of live provocations and simulated nuclear warfare creates a potent and dangerous cocktail of threats, putting European capitals on high alert and testing the unity of the NATO alliance in its support for Ukraine.
