Just when we think we have enough to handle, this week, NATO 9the north Atlantic TreatyOrganizaion that has managed to keep the peace in Europe for more nearly 80 years) confirmed that after a massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine overnight Wednesday, NATO member Poland scrambled fighter jets to defend its airspace.
It was confirmed that Russia launched another major missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure overnight, coming very close to the Polish border. The attack triggered Poland’s early warning system, causing it to respond to the attacks on its neighbor. The attack was severe enough that it activated “the highest state” of alert for Warsaw’s ground-based air defenses and radar systems.
This is hardly the first time that this has happened. Russia is beginning to treat the borders of the conflict it instigated against its neighbor Ukraine as not just porous, but as only worth ignoring. It has regularly allowed (or directed) its military drones into neighboring airspace of Poland, Moldova, and the Baltics.
Then on Thursday, NATO confirmed that Polish jets intercepted a Russian aircraft on Tuesday that was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Baltic Sea without a filed flight plan. According to the Polish army, it had its aircraft transponder turned off.
Strategists who track Russia’s aggressive stance note that these incursions over NATO soverign countries and flying international space without the international agreement to be tracked, say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing NATO’s response, looking for weak points.
Featured image: Russian MiG fighter jet. Image courtesy Dept. of Defense.