Poland to discuss threat of Russian provocation using intercepted Ukrainian drones

The Polish government's security committee is set to discuss the risk of a Russian provocation involving Ukrainian attack drones that have fallen into Russian hands relatively intact.

Source: RMF24, a Polish news media outlet; European Pravda

Details: Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Russia has already intercepted a significant number of Ukrainian attack drones used to strike targets inside Russia, and could use them in hybrid false-flag provocations against its European neighbours.

He said Poland needs to be prepared for this scenario and that the threat will be discussed at a meeting of the Council of Ministers' security committee on the morning of 21 July.

"This will be one of the key topics at tomorrow's meeting," Kosiniak-Kamysz said, adding that they will also discuss strengthening readiness against cyberspace threats and threats to critical infrastructure.

Quote: "Our partners in the Baltic states, Finland and Romania are also talking about this. We see this as a current threat to the entire eastern flank of NATO."

Background:

• During spring and in early summer 2026, attack drones used by Ukraine to strike targets in Russia repeatedly ended up on the territory of the Baltic states and Finland, having gone off course under the influence of electronic warfare. In one case, drones hit an empty oil tank at an oil depot in Latvia.
• In two cases, NATO patrol fighter jets shot down drones – one over Estonia, another over Latvia.
• Ukraine apologised to its partners for these incidents at the time, attributing them to the effects of Russian electronic warfare systems.
• In June, a stray naval drone exploded in Romania at the port of Constanța.

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