Europe18 September, 20262 min read
Donald Tusk Warns Russia Could Stage Hybrid Drone And Missile Strikes On Poland
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Tusk says intelligence indicates Russia may launch hybrid drone and missile attacks against Ukraine's allies. Attacks could be framed as accidental to undermine NATO's willingness to defend allies.
30 outlets told this the same way.
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Tusk warns, Trump agrees
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned in parliament that Russia’s plans include “hybrid” drone and missile strikes on countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland, with Moscow portraying them as “accidental.”
Tusk said intelligence assessments were “very consistent and unfortunately convincing,” and he warned the scenario could undermine NATO’s Article 5 collective defense guarantee by making it “only theoretical, not practical.”
In the same period, U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists at the White House that “For about five years they have been attacking Ukraine's allies,” responding to questions tied to Poland’s concerns about possible Russian attacks.
Trump also said, “I think everyone agrees on that,” while the Polish government framed the risk as drones or other missiles entering NATO territory on the eastern flank and causing damage.
“Accidental” narrative and base
Tusk told parliament that Russia could carry out hybrid strikes and then claim the incidents were “accidental,” aiming to “paralyse” or at least weaken NATO’s motivation to rush to the defence of the member state coming under attack.
In the same warning, Tusk said “The official narrative will be that it’s an accident and there is no reason for NATO to think about a response,” linking the tactic to efforts to weaken NATO cohesion and Article 5.
After Tusk’s warning, Trump said he had seen “major progress” toward establishing a permanent U.S. Army base in Poland, adding, “If this happens, the location will be announced very soon.”
NPR reported that Tusk said he had received intelligence from NATO, Ukraine and U.S. agencies, while stressing that “there is nothing to suggest an invasion” even as he warned Poland was about to face a “real test.”
Fall and winter stakes
Tusk warned that the coming fall and winter months could be “tragically critical” for Ukraine, with Russia expected to step up attacks against Ukraine and its allies, including Poland. He said the most likely scenario for the next few months was continuous, high-intensity strikes on major Ukrainian cities while targeting warehouses and rail infrastructure, and he tied the threat to jet-powered drones that Ukraine had struggled to intercept.
The Guardian reported that Tusk said Russia was not ready for peace talks “without the total capitulation of Ukraine,” and he added that intelligence indicates continuous attacks of “very high frequency and intensity” on six main Ukrainian cities should be expected. The Guardian also said the European Union will disburse €3.3bn to Ukraine to buy missiles and drones, while Tusk planned to travel to Kyiv overnight, arriving on Friday, to discuss with Volodymyr Zelenskyy how to defend against the new types of drones and further sanctions with Slovakia.