Russia targets Poland, Romania and Moldova with drones and sabotage

Moldova and Romania Confront Airspace Violations and Explosions

The Republic of Moldova recorded four separate drone incursions on Thursday, September 24, 2026, with two unmanned aerial vehicles exploding on its territory and the wreckage of a third recovered by law enforcement. Moldovan authorities temporarily closed the northern airspace of the country in response to the security threat. Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that the massive Russian assault on Ukraine had once again breached Moldovan borders, warning that Moscow’s war endangers the security of all of Europe. Meanwhile, Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu announced that Chisinau is actively consulting with neighboring Romania and Ukraine to establish effective measures for protecting Moldovan airspace, noting that while the nation can monitor its skies, it currently lacks the domestic capabilities to intercept and shoot down hostile drones.

Across the border in Romania, two drones breached national airspace during the same wave of attacks on September 24. One of the devices detonated in northern Romania near the locality of Solca, situated roughly 30 kilometers west of Suceava, forcing the temporary closure of a nearby border crossing with Ukraine. Prior to the impact, Romanian airspace defenses prompted the scrambling of NATO combat aircraft following a Russian bombardment near the Danube Delta. Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta confirmed that the drone recovered in Solca displayed new technical characteristics, indicating it may be a newer jet-powered Russian model, and stated that an official diplomatic protest should be lodged against Moscow. The incidents have intensified domestic political debate in Bucharest, where critics have argued that officials remain overly cautious in naming the direct security risks posed by Russian operations.

Poland Reports Sabotage and Airspace Breaches

Polish authorities responded to a dual crisis involving physical sabotage and a direct military intrusion from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. On Wednesday evening, September 23, 2026, a fire broke out at a Starlink ground station located in Wola Krobowska, approximately 40 kilometers south of Warsaw. The facility, owned by state telecommunications firm Exatel, routes critical internet traffic through Poland and onward to Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk identified the incident as targeted arson and confirmed that officials suspect deliberate sabotage aimed at degrading communications capabilities. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski added that the attack fits within emerging patterns of Russian hybrid warfare doctrine.

The sabotage incident was followed closely by an airspace violation on Wednesday, when a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter crossed the border from Kaliningrad. According to the operational command of the Polish armed forces, the military aircraft penetrated roughly 300 meters into Polish airspace and remained there for 42 seconds before returning. Prime Minister Tusk warned during a public address in Krakow that Russian President Vladimir Putin is systematically perfecting coercive tactics to wear down both Ukrainian infrastructure and European resolve. As a result of simultaneous large-scale Russian strikes near the border, Polish military forces scrambled NATO fighter jets twice and temporarily evacuated two border crossings.

Wider European Warnings and Intelligence Assessments

The security fallout extended further west as European governments evaluated fresh intelligence warnings regarding potential maritime and hybrid attacks. Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on September 24 on a Central Intelligence Agency assessment indicating that Russia could be preparing future drone attacks targeting France, Spain, and Italy by utilizing shadow fleet commercial vessels operating in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that while French intelligence services had not received direct notification from the CIA regarding the specific report, the possibility of such Russian aggression against Europe remains entirely plausible.

Simultaneously, Danish defense officials delivered a stark assessment during a joint press conference held by the Ministry of Defense, the military intelligence service, and the general staff. Danish authorities warned that Moscow is poised to escalate its hybrid campaign against Western nations and NATO members over the coming months, carrying more severe consequences than previous incidents. Danish Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus characterized the current geopolitical environment as more serious than at any point since the conclusion of the Cold War.