Poland’s Foreign Minister warns that Russia is escalating and waging an “increasingly physical” war with Europe

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Thursday, in an interview with TVP Info, that Russia “is at war with Europe,” amid several recent incidents that have affected the security of NATO’s eastern flank.

The official from Warsaw stated that Moscow’s actions go beyond the forms of hybrid warfare to which European states have become accustomed, such as blocking websites or disinformation campaigns. Sikorski pointed to the explosion of a cruise missile in Poland, explosions occurring near the Polish border, and the downing of a drone in Lithuania’s airspace.

The unmanned aircraft was shot down on Tuesday by an Italian fighter jet involved in NATO’s air-policing mission in the Baltic region. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that the drone was a Gerbera-type drone used by Russia and that it was probably heading toward Ukraine, but changed course after being affected by Ukrainian electronic warfare. The aircraft was carrying an explosive device, which was neutralized.

Sikorski did not describe the incident as a deliberate attack on Lithuania. Russia has not commented on the situation so far. His statements reflect growing concerns about the security of airspace and critical infrastructure near the borders of Ukraine and Russia.

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