Poland warns Russia may plan hybrid strikes on Ukraine allies as border alert is raised
Poland has said Russian war plans may include hybrid drone and missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, including Polish territory. Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that intelligence assessments point to a risk of attacks designed to look accidental. He said such strikes could be intended to weaken NATO's ability to respond collectively.
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The warning came as Poland scrambled military aircraft after a Russian attack in western Ukraine, close to its border. Authorities also temporarily closed airports in Rzeszow and Lublin, while residents in two eastern regions received air raid warnings. Local reports said sirens sounded and pupils in some schools took shelter, underlining how quickly the fighting can affect areas beyond Ukraine.
Tusk said the alleged plan could involve drones and missiles and might be framed by Moscow as an accident even if it caused damage. He did not say which intelligence agencies had provided the assessment. He also linked the warning to what he described as a wider political climate in Europe, where some parties are calling for peace terms that would amount to Ukraine's capitulation.
The comments matter because Poland is on NATO's eastern flank and has become a key route for military and humanitarian support to Kyiv. Any strike on Polish territory would carry direct alliance implications, especially if it were judged deliberate rather than accidental. The warning also comes amid broader European concern about sabotage and pressure on states backing Ukraine, allegations Moscow has denied.
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Poland has repeatedly raised concerns about spillover from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has made border states more exposed to airspace incidents and security alerts. Tusk said a Russian attack near the border included a strike close to Dorohusk, where a petrol station was reportedly hit again. On Sunday, a Russian drone hit a passenger train in Ukraine just two kilometres from the Polish border, adding to the sense of proximity and risk.
It remains unclear whether Polish officials are describing a specific imminent threat or a broader intelligence-based scenario. The government has not said when or where any alleged strikes might occur, and it has not identified the agencies behind the warning. What happens next will depend on whether further cross-border incidents follow and how NATO allies assess the risk to their own territory.
Poland has said Russian war plans may include hybrid drone and missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, including Polish territory. Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that intelligence assessments point to a risk of attacks designed to look accidental. He said such strikes could be intended to weaken NATO's ability to respond collectively.
The warning came as Poland scrambled military aircraft after a Russian attack in western Ukraine, close to its border. Authorities also temporarily closed airports in Rzeszow and Lublin, while residents in two eastern regions received air raid warnings. Local reports said sirens sounded and pupils in some schools took shelter, underlining how quickly the fighting can affect areas beyond Ukraine.
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Tusk said the alleged plan could involve drones and missiles and might be framed by Moscow as an accident even if it caused damage. He did not say which intelligence agencies had provided the assessment. He also linked the warning to what he described as a wider political climate in Europe, where some parties are calling for peace terms that would amount to Ukraine's capitulation.
The comments matter because Poland is on NATO's eastern flank and has become a key route for military and humanitarian support to Kyiv. Any strike on Polish territory would carry direct alliance implications, especially if it were judged deliberate rather than accidental. The warning also comes amid broader European concern about sabotage and pressure on states backing Ukraine, allegations Moscow has denied.
Poland has repeatedly raised concerns about spillover from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has made border states more exposed to airspace incidents and security alerts. Tusk said a Russian attack near the border included a strike close to Dorohusk, where a petrol station was reportedly hit again. On Sunday, a Russian drone hit a passenger train in Ukraine just two kilometres from the Polish border, adding to the sense of proximity and risk.
It remains unclear whether Polish officials are describing a specific imminent threat or a broader intelligence-based scenario. The government has not said when or where any alleged strikes might occur, and it has not identified the agencies behind the warning. What happens next will depend on whether further cross-border incidents follow and how NATO allies assess the risk to their own territory.
Poland's prime minister has warned that Russian war plans may include hybrid drone and missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland. Donald Tusk told parliament that there is a real risk drones could fall in NATO territory. He said Moscow could then describe any resulting destruction as an accident.
Tusk said the warning was based on intelligence assessments. He told deputies that the aim would be to weaken NATO cohesion and persuade member states that Article 5 is more theoretical than practical. His comments came amid growing tension between Russia and European countries backing Kyiv, as the war continues into its fifth year.
The warning is significant because Poland sits on NATO's eastern flank and has become a key route for Western military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Warsaw has repeatedly accused Moscow of sabotage. The latest remarks suggest Polish officials see the threat as extending beyond the battlefield in Ukraine and into allied territory.
The comments also come as allied governments continue to assess the risks of spillover from the war. Tusk said the alleged Russian plan would involve strikes on countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland, using drones and missiles. He added that Moscow's public line would likely be that any incident was accidental, even if it caused destruction.
Poland's role in the conflict has made it one of the most exposed NATO members. It has been a main hub for transporting aid to Kyiv, and its leaders have repeatedly called for a stronger allied presence on the eastern flank. The warning therefore carries both military and political weight, because any incident involving NATO territory would raise questions about alliance response and deterrence.
Tusk is due to visit Ukraine on Friday, where he is also expected to meet Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. It remains unclear whether Polish intelligence has identified a specific imminent threat or is describing a broader risk scenario. What happens next will depend on whether any cross-border incidents occur and how NATO allies respond if they do.
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