Russian hybrid attacks against Europe intensifying, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Russian hybrid attacks against Europe are intensifying and has directed his government to protect critical infrastructure and defense industry sites. This follows Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's warning that Russia plans drone and missile strikes on countries supporting Ukraine, with a risk of these being presented as "accidental" to divide NATO. A recent incident involved a Russian drone hitting a passenger train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after Boris Johnson and European security officials had used the same route. Russian officials have denied plans to attack Europe but have warned against sending troops to Ukraine, which they would consider a declaration of war. Hybrid warfare involves a combination of conventional military force with non-military tactics like cyberattacks and misinformation.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that intelligence suggests Russia plans hybrid drone and missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland. These attacks, according to Tusk, would be presented as "accidental" and aim to weaken NATO's collective response capabilities. He also indicated that such strikes could coincide with political shifts in European countries favoring Russia. Earlier on Thursday, Poland scrambled military planes in response to a Russian attack in western Ukraine near its border. European nations suspect Moscow of orchestrating recent sabotage acts to pressure allies aiding Ukraine, a claim the Kremlin denies.