Poland warns Russia may use captured Ukrainian drones for false‑flag attacks

Poland’s deputy prime minister and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz warned that Russia has seized a large number of Ukrainian drones and could repaint them to carry out false‑flag provocations against NATO members. He said the threat level from Moscow remains "very high" and that such drones might be used to target Poland, the Baltic states, Finland, Romania and other NATO allies, complicating attribution and destabilising the alliance.

Lithuanian defence minister Robertas Kaunas echoed the warning, stating that the Kremlin may view the eastern flank of NATO—Poland and the Baltic countries—as its next target after failures in Ukraine. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda confirmed intelligence indicating possible Russian provocations aimed at testing NATO unity, including attacks on critical energy and transport infrastructure.

Both officials highlighted a broader pattern of Russian hybrid aggression: repeated interceptions of Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea by Polish and Swedish fighters, cyber‑attacks, GPS jamming and sabotage attempts. They said national security committees will discuss heightened defensive measures and coordination with NATO partners to counter any misuse of captured drones.