In October 2025, Russia intensified a hybrid war campaign against European NATO members by conducting dozens of provocative drone incursions near major airports and NATO bases across countries such as Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Lithuania, and Poland. Notably, on September 19, three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission, and eight days later a swarm of 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, three of which were shot down in the first-ever direct clash between NATO and Russian forces. These drone sightings caused airport shutdowns in Copenhagen, Oslo, Munich and flight disruptions in Vilnius. Russian agents were also accused of sabotage attacks on undersea communication and electrical cables under the Baltic Sea, as well as incendiary attacks on international courier companies. Analysts theorize this Russian campaign may be either a psychological operation aimed at sowing doubt about continued European support for Ukraine or preparatory groundwork for possible wider military conflict. No current evidence indicates an imminent large-scale war, but Russia’s restructuring of military districts and buildup near its NATO border indicate ongoing strategic posturing. The Kremlin consistently denies involvement, and Russian President Putin publicly joked about sending drones to various European cities, signaling a continued escalation of hybrid tactics.
Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations
Subcategory: Conventional Military Pressure
Incident Type: Airspace violations
Country: Estonia
Source report: www.theglobeandmail.com/world/art…
