Overview

• Poland launched a precautionary air operation, scrambling fighters and helicopters and placing ground-based air defenses on highest alert before standing down after roughly two hours.
• Authorities in eastern Poland sounded sirens, issued SMS warnings in five border districts, and temporarily closed Lublin airport due to the military activity.
• Romania reported a Russian drone entering its airspace; two F-16s tracked it toward Chilia Veche until it vanished from radar without overflying populated areas or posing an immediate public threat.
• NATO accelerated reinforcement of Poland’s eastern defenses under Operation Eastern Sentry, with allies boosting contributions and German Eurofighters placed on alert in Romania.
• Debate over intent intensified as Zelensky accused Russia of widening the war, Rubio called the incursions unacceptable pending clarification of motive, and Trump tied tougher sanctions to a full stop on allied purchases of Russian oil, while an INSA poll found 62% of Germans fear a Russian attack on a NATO member.