Tusk: intelligence sees Russian plan for drone strikes on Poland, allies
Poland warns of growing risk from Russian drone and missile activity
Poinews.com – Tusk - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the country to prepare for a difficult period ahead, warning lawmakers that intelligence assessments point to a heightened risk of Russian hybrid attacks affecting Poland and other countries supporting Ukraine.
In a special address to the Sejm, Tusk described what he called the most likely outlook for the next several months. He said the period through early spring could bring serious challenges requiring discipline, focus and public resilience.
“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 those tests would concern all Poles, not only state institutions. He identified late autumn and winter as a particularly dangerous stage of the war, saying available intelligence points to an increasingly critical phase in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Faster drones create a new air-defence challenge
A central concern is Russia’s wider deployment of a new generation of jet-powered drones. Tusk said these aircraft can fly substantially faster than earlier systems, operate at high altitude and descend onto their targets, making interception more difficult.
He stressed that few countries are fully equipped to counter this kind of threat effectively. Poland must develop its own response, he said, while also drawing on the operational experience Ukraine has gained during repeated Russian air attacks.
Tusk said he plans to travel to Ukraine for discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky about cooperation within what he described as an anti-ballistic coalition. The aim would be to combine Ukraine’s experience, capabilities and capacity with those of Poland and other partners facing the consequences of the war.
Ukraine’s infrastructure remains under pressure
The warning came as Russian attacks continue to target Ukrainian energy, transport and logistical systems. Tusk referred to earlier expectations of an energy truce mentioned by US President Donald Trump, but said those expectations had not been fulfilled.
“Since then, there have been many attacks, including on energy infrastructure in Ukraine.”
For Poland, damage near Ukrainian border crossings is especially significant. Disruption in these areas can affect routes used for trade, aid, civilian movement and the transport of supplies. Tusk said Russia appears determined to damage Ukraine’s economy and logistics as extensively as possible.
“For now, Ukraine’s.”
He said Russian forces are expected to maintain frequent and intense attacks against six major Ukrainian cities, as well as warehouses holding material essential to the country’s defence and railway infrastructure. In recent weeks, Russia has destroyed more than 300 Ukrainian railway locomotives, Tusk said, highlighting the scale of pressure on transport networks that help sustain Ukraine’s economy and wartime operations.
Concern over “accidental” incursions
The prime minister said intelligence services believe Russian planning may also encompass drone and missile incidents involving countries backing Ukraine, including Poland. Such warnings have circulated for some time, he noted, but the information now appears more consistent and more convincing.
Tusk suggested that any strike could be presented publicly as an accident, even if it caused damage inside the territory of a NATO member. The possible purpose, he said, would be to test alliance unity and discourage a firm collective response.
“There is a real risk that the territory of one or several NATO countries on the eastern flank may be entered by drones or other types of missiles, which may even cause destruction.”
He said the accompanying Russian message could be that an incident was unintentional and did not justify considering NATO action. Repeated episodes of this kind could weaken confidence in the alliance’s willingness to act together when one member is threatened.
For eastern-flank countries such as Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, airspace security has become a central issue in the wider war. A drone or missile crossing a border can create immediate military, political and public-safety concerns, regardless of whether it was launched deliberately or went off course.
Tusk said Russia’s broader objective is to undermine unity within NATO and persuade its members that Article 5 — the alliance commitment that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all — is theoretical rather than practical.
Appeal for political unity
The Polish leader also warned that military pressure could be paired with political efforts to influence debate in Europe. With elections approaching in several countries, he pointed to the activity of political forces he described as openly pro-Russian.
He appealed to politicians across party lines, directing particular attention to members of the Confederation party, not to reinforce messages that serve Russian interests.
“Whipping up hostility towards the European Union, towards our allies, towards Ukrainians, is directly implementing Russia’s strategy. Everyone must finally understand this.”
Tusk ended by calling for a united approach inside the Sejm on matters involving Poland’s borders, airspace and the safety of homes. Political disagreement, he said, should not prevent common decisions when national security is at stake.
He warned that some figures in Europe may seek reasons to avoid defending countries exposed to aggression, invoking the prospect of arguments such as: “We will not die for Poland, we will not perish for Latvia or Lithuania.” His message to lawmakers was that Poland and its allies must demonstrate resolve before any such test of unity occurs.
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