Tusk warns Russia is waging a hybrid war and may strike NATO’s eastern flank

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia is already conducting a hybrid war against Poland and that Moscow could carry out new strikes against countries on NATO’s eastern flank.

Tusk made the remarks in an address to the Sejm on 17 September, saying intelligence assessments point to plans for “hybrid attacks” using drones and missiles against countries that support Ukraine, including Poland.

Jets scrambled after strikes near border

The warning came after Polish authorities said they had activated military aircraft on Thursday in response to a Russian strike in western Ukraine close to the Polish border. Officials reported that jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles have been used in recent attacks on Ukrainian territory near Poland.

Tusk added that possible attacks might be portrayed as “accidental” to weaken NATO’s readiness to mount a collective response. He did not name which intelligence services provided the assessments but said allied information was consistent and persuasive.

“Russia does not have to cross our border. It is already waging a hybrid war against us with drones, sabotage and disinformation on the internet,” Tusk said, underlining Warsaw’s concern about a widening campaign of pressure and provocation.

Photo: press material from the event