Overview

• Alliance leaders said the new operation will begin in the coming days with contributions from France, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom and others, integrating air and ground defenses with a focus on counter‑drone interception.
• Polish and Dutch fighters shot down at least three of the 19 drones that penetrated Poland during the night of September 9–10, with authorities reporting recovery of 17 drones or debris and no casualties.
• Warsaw requested NATO consultations and pressed the UN Security Council as the European Union summoned the Russian and Belarusian envoys, while Moscow denied responsibility and NATO’s assessment of intent remained ongoing.
• Poland tightened security by closing sections of its eastern border and highlighting broader hybrid threats, including alleged organized migrant flows and sabotage plots attributed to Russian services.
• Russia and Belarus launched the Zapad‑2025 exercises near NATO borders, raising regional tensions as NATO commanders emphasized deterrence, questioned cost‑effective counter‑drone options, and pledged to procure lower‑cost defenses.