Russia likely to step up drone and missile attacks against countries supporting Ukraine – Tusk
Read NV on Google
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Photo: REUTERS/Lukasz Glowala/)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia will likely step up hybrid drone and missile attacks against nations supporting Ukraine over the coming months, speaking during an address to the Sejm, Polish outlet Onet reported on September 17.
Tusk noted that recent strikes near the Polish border are a cause for particular concern, emphasizing that citizens have a right to know what to anticipate based on the latest intelligence. He stressed the urgent need for a clear assessment of how the situation is expected to unfold in the region.
“I want to present to the public the most likely scenario for the coming months, as it is a scenario involving serious events and requiring us to be focused, serious and, above all, mentally ready to pass difficult tests,” the prime minister said.
“In short: there is a real risk that drones or other types of missiles could stray into the territory of one or more countries on the eastern flank – potentially even causing destruction – while the official explanation would be that it was an accident,” Tusk said.
The prime minister added that this scenario is not the only possibility, noting that unpredictability has become a defining feature of modern politics.
“According to intelligence assessments, the Russian plan also envisages hybrid drone and missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, particularly Poland,” Tusk said. “There has long been talk of such a possibility, but today this information appears highly consistent and, unfortunately, convincing.”
Tusk added that these strikes could be “accidental,” aimed at paralyzing or weakening NATO members' motivation to invoke alliance provisions in the event of aggression.
Russia's objective, he said, is to convince NATO countries that Article 5 is more theoretical than practical.
CNN reported on September 17 that Russia's hybrid attacks against Europe aim to create a sense of impending war without triggering a direct conflict. However, the report noted that Moscow could eventually miscalculate and cross a line, forcing NATO to respond with military force.
The outlet stated that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has two goals. First is to make the cost of supporting Ukraine feel real and growing, and weigh on the minds of European voters. The second goal is to test NATO's readiness to respond to threats and effectively put the alliance's Article 5 collective defense principle to the test.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
