Recently, Poland and Romania issued air raid alerts in regions bordering Ukraine due to the presence of drones in their airspace. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a drone was observed over Romania for about 50 minutes. In Poland, a drone came close enough to the border to prompt the closure of the international airport in Lublin.
Both countries scrambled jets to counter potential drone incursions, with Romania also attempting to track and destroy the unmanned aerial vehicle. Officials and experts view these events as part of systematic Russian provocations against European countries that support Ukraine, rather than mere accidents.
The Kremlin's objective is to destabilize neighboring countries and sow uncertainty. This is coupled with direct threats against Finland, Russian troop build-up on its border, and ongoing Russia-Belarus military drills. Notably, Moscow continues to deny responsibility for such provocations, echoing previous denials regarding the downing of the Malaysian airliner and drone attacks on Poland and Romania.
Russia seeks to instill fear and helplessness among Europeans, discouraging direct responses that might risk escalation. Experts advocate for establishing a joint air defense zone between Poland, Romania, and Ukraine to more effectively protect airspace and deter further Russian moves.
Decision-making is hampered by fears of conflict escalation and uncertainty about support from allies such as the US and NATO. The lack of a decisive response increases the risk of intensified drone attacks: Russia leverages fear to pressure Europe and continues provocations when faced with indecision.
