Romania and Poland were forced to scramble military assets in response to another wave of russian drone aggression that spilled beyond Ukraine's borders. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, russian drone penetrated nearly 10 kilometers into Romanian territory, remaining in NATO airspace for about 50 minutes. Poland also activated its military forces to monitor and counter the threat posed by hostile drones.
Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that such incidents are not accidental, nor the result of lower-level commanders acting independently. Instead, he described them as a deliberate escalation by Moscow, aimed at testing NATO's defenses and expanding the scope of the war.
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"These routes cannot be a coincidence or improvisation," the President said, warning that russia is consciously taking small steps that could have far-reaching consequences.
The President pointed out that russian drones were active across Ukraine throughout the day, targeting multiple regions, including northern areas near the Belarusian border. Some of the drones, he noted, entered Ukrainian airspace directly from Belarusian territory, further underlining the growing risks of a broader regional destabilization.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized russia's actions as a series of "small steps that bring great losses", underscoring that each incursion chips away at European security. He argued that Moscow's reliance on such methods is part of a broader strategy of intimidation and attrition, aimed not only at Ukraine but also at testing NATO's response thresholds.
In his statement, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for preventive action, insisting that there are no "insignificant" military threats when dealing with an aggressor accustomed to destroying independence and human life. He stressed that the international community must not wait for a larger-scale catastrophe before responding decisively.
The Ukrainian leader urged allies to accelerate the creation of a joint air defense shield capable of protecting Europe's skies from drone and missile strikes. He also called for tougher sanctions against russia, including restrictions on trade and the imposition of tariffs designed to further strain the russian economy.
"Do not wait for dozens of the Shahed drones and ballistic missiles before making decisions," Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned, pointing out that delayed responses only embolden the Kremlin to escalate further.
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