Polish officials warn of possible Russian provocations amid hybrid threat

Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski warned that Russia could carry out false‑flag operations using drones or other hybrid tactics against Polish territory, emphasizing that “they play such games and we must be prepared.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw is intensively preparing for various scenarios and that NATO is ready to respond. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Pieskov dismissed Western media reports of Russian plans as “horror stories” and “scary stories,” while acknowledging that Russia monitors the situation.

Polish officials, including deputy minister of foreign affairs Marcin Bosacki, said they have been receiving concerning intelligence about possible Russian provocations for several months. Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanow warned of a “culminating point” in tensions with Poland, accusing Warsaw of preparing actions that could escalate the dispute. NATO’s upcoming summit in Ankara and the ongoing discussion about a permanent U.S. base in Poland are cited as potential triggers for Russian aggression.