Russian drones and aircraft have breached NATO airspace. This is a strategic attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to intimidate European allies supporting Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Bloomberg.
This fall, European states have faced drone attacks, with most of the targets reportedly being reconnaissance type. They started with a massive assault on Poland during the Zapad-2025 drills in Belarus. Ukraine's Defense Intelligence has called it a preparation for a potential war with the West from Belarusian territory. After the attack, Poland itself saw an unprecedented surge in anti-Ukrainian sentiments, fueled by fear of war and Russian propaganda. Thus, the Russian strategy is working.
Special operation of fear against Europe, the biggest Ukraine's ally in Russia's war
According to the Ukrainian president, the drone attacks were "psychological intimidation, without a doubt." They scared some European leaders from sending air defense systems to Ukraine.
“I think he scared them, that was his goal, and he achieved it,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia wants to drive the Ukrainians from their homes by winter terror
Meanwhile, Russia has moved from a strategy of conquering Ukraine to a strategy of its destruction. This year, Putin has lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in exchange for less than 1% of Ukraine’s territory. This means Moscow is ready to pay any price for the occupation.
Russia is conducting thousands of air strikes on the power grid, central heating, and gas infrastructure as winter approaches.
The goal is to render parts of the country’s east uninhabitable, crash the industry, and provoke mass emigration and panic.
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