The Russia-Ukraine war: Russian drones in NATO airspace and alleged sabotage plots

Further incidents involved debris and airspace violations. Romania reported finding apparent Russian drone fragments in September 2023 and a suspected drone crater the following month.^[9][10] Poland said a Russian missile appeared to have crossed its airspace briefly in December 2023 and demanded an explanation from Moscow after another incursion in March 2024.^[11][12] Romania and Latvia reported Russian drone incursions in September 2024.^[13]

In September 2025, Poland said Russian drones had entered its airspace during an attack on Ukraine. Polish forces and NATO allies shot drones down, and Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which provides for consultations among members.^[1][14] NATO launched Eastern Sentry to reinforce its eastern flank.^[15] Estonia subsequently reported that three Russian fighter jets had remained in its airspace for 12 minutes.^[16] Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, proposed a no-fly zone over Ukraine,^[17] while US President Donald Trump said NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft entering their airspace.^[18]

Further drone incidents were reported in 2026. A Russian drone struck an apartment building in Galati, Romania, in May, injuring two people.^[19] Romanian F-16s shot down drones in July,^[20] and later reports described interceptions over Latvia, Romania and Lithuania.^[2][3] In October, Romanian F-16s shot down two jet-powered drones of a type Russia uses against Ukraine after they entered the country's airspace, though Romania did not say whose they were.^[21] Attribution varied: Bulgaria said a drone that exploded near a gas pipeline in August appeared to be a type used by Ukraine's military. Ukraine denied targeting Bulgaria.^[22]

German authorities also investigated suspected espionage and sabotage. They arrested an employee of Germany's foreign intelligence service in December 2022 on suspicion of passing secrets to Russia.^[4] In April 2024, they arrested two German-Russian men accused of planning sabotage to undermine aid to Ukraine.^[23] Germany subsequently accused Russian military intelligence of hacking Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party and recalled its ambassador from Moscow for a week.^[5]

Other investigations concerned transport and energy infrastructure. Finland detained the Russia-linked tanker Eagle S in December 2024 while investigating damage to a Baltic Sea power cable.^[24] In November 2025, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said two Ukrainian citizens working for Russia were suspected of sabotaging a railway used to deliver aid to Ukraine.^[25] Germany blamed Russia after an explosives-carrying drone was found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August 2026. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the incident had "all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism."^[6] In October, Lithuania said it had foiled an arson attack on Starlink equipment and suspected Russian involvement.^[26] Germany arrested a Ukrainian man that month on suspicion of gathering defense information for Russia, as its military raised the threat level for Russian sabotage against its troops and facilities.^[27]

Officials also warned about further attacks. According to people familiar with his August 2026 visit, CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow partly to warn Russia against attacking NATO countries.^[28] Denmark's military intelligence service later assessed the likelihood of a limited Russian attack on a NATO country as low but increasing, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance could handle sabotage and drone incidents.^[29] In October, NATO said it would send more patrol aircraft and drones to the Black Sea after Russian attacks on commercial ships.^[30] Days later, a drone strike sank a cargo ship in the Black Sea off Romania, killing one crew member and leaving three missing, in what reports described as a Russian attack.^[31] Romania's president called an alleged Russian sabotage plot a "grave violation" of its sovereignty,^[32] and a vessel hit by drones sank off Bulgaria's coast.^[33]