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East Front News is a weekly newsletter summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please sign up by clicking HERE .
Estonia stands firm against Russian threats
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Estonia has intensified its defence efforts, expanding cooperation with NATO allies and investing heavily in new equipment, including Polish Piorun missiles. The country views Moscow’s actions as a direct threat but relies on collective defence and close ties with the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Historical experience of Soviet occupation continues to shape Estonia’s national resilience and determination to support Ukraine.
Despite growing concerns over Russia’s military build-up and hybrid activities, Tallinn remains confident in NATO’s deterrence and regional solidarity. The government stresses that courage and readiness are essential to safeguarding the Baltic region—Estonia will not be intimidated.
Author: Aleksander Olech
The Chinese Game for Belarus (ANALYSIS)
China is steadily expanding its economic and political footprint in Belarus, but its influence remains secondary to Russia’s dominant role. Belarus continues to depend overwhelmingly on Moscow for energy, security, and exports — making China more a complementary partner than a genuine alternative.
Authors: Bartłomiej Wypartowicz, Wojciech Kozioł
Europe is opening the way for tanks
The European Union wants to introduce a military mobility zone. The new regulations would significantly speed up the transport of European troops in the event of a conflict with Russia.
EU decision-makers will want to implement new regulations removing potential barriers blocking the rapid movement of troops belonging to European Union countries. The plans would include the preparation of a network of land corridors and a stronger focus on protecting infrastructure responsible for military transport.
Author: Michał Górski
„wGotowości” – a new nationwide defence training program launched across Poland
Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has announced the launch of the „wGotowości” program, aimed at preparing citizens to respond in crises and strengthening the country’s overall resilience. The pilot phase begins on November 22 and will last five weeks, involving over 100,000 participants. In 2026, the Ministry of Defence plans to train around 400,000 people. Training sessions conducted by 132 military units, mainly the Territorial Defence Forces, will cover safety, survival, cyber hygiene, and first aid. Registration takes place through the mObywatel mobile app.
The program is voluntary and consolidates previous initiatives such as „Train with the Army” and „Summer with the Army.” Its importance goes beyond the strictly military sphere. It is part of building societal resilience and strengthening the nation’s defence reserves. The main challenge will be to maintain the quality of training and ensure that it translates into real-world readiness among citizens. In Poland’s eastern regions, the initiative could serve as a model for fostering broad-based defence awareness and civic mobilisation in the face of hybrid threats.
Author: Justyna Smoleń
MEROPS system to enhance airspace security in Poland, Romania, and Denmark
Poland, Romania, and Denmark are set to deploy the advanced MEROPS system (Multispectral Extended Range Optical Sight) to bolster their airspace security in response to the increasing frequency of drone incursions and violations of NATO airspace. This technology is designed
for identifying and tracking drones and is able to operate effectively through clouds and dust, what makes it useful for defence in challenging conditions. Moreover, it can detect and neutralise drones at a lower cost than flying an F-35 aircraft and shooting them down with a missile. From Polish perspective, the MEROPS’s deployment aligns closely with recent statements by Deputy Minister of Defence Cezary Tomczyk, who announced plans to develop a national anti-drone system independent of the European Union’s proposed drone wall.
This implementation means a lot for the regional security architecture. On the one hand it reflects the evolving nature of modern threats, as demonstrated by the increasing use of drones in the context of Russia’s full-scale aggression. On the other hand, it underscores a broader deterrence strategy, emphasizing enhanced technological cooperation and coordination among NATO allies in counter-drone operations.
Auhtor: Amelia Wojciechowska
Czechia: Government of Petr Fiala resigns after election defeat
The centre-right government led by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has officially submitted its resignation. President Petr Pavel accepted the resignation and asked the ministers and the Prime Minister to continue their duties until a new government is formed. The resignation follows the recent legislative elections, in which the movement ANO, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, emerged victorious. He now has the mandate to form a new coalition government together with the right-wing parties SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy) and Motoristie (The Motorists). President Pavel praised Fiala’s government for steering the country through a difficult period marked by the war in Ukraine, migration and the energy crisis, but also noted shortcomings in education and in the digitalisation of the construction approval process.
Looking ahead, Babiš’s return to power raises concerns about conflicts of interest. He still controls the holding company Agrofert despite Czech and EU rules forbidding a prime minister from holding such assets directly. The president has conditioned the appointment of Babiš on resolving this matter. From a strategic perspective for NATO’s eastern flank and Central Europe, this change signals a potential shift towards a more eurosceptic and nationalist Czech policy. While the transition is constitutional and orderly, the new coalition’s stance on EU integration, defence cooperation and regional security will warrant close monitoring.
Author: Justyna Smoleń
Lavrov sidelined in Moscow
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s absence from the latest Security Council meeting and his removal as head of delegations to the G20 and ASEAN summits point to a clear shift within the Kremlin’s hierarchy. Once a central figure of Russian diplomacy, Lavrov now appears sidelined as President Vladimir Putin centralises control over foreign policy and replaces career diplomats with loyal technocrats such as Maxim Oreshkin and Alexey Overchuk.
The move follows tensions with Washington and growing dissatisfaction in Moscow over Lavrov’s handling of recent negotiations. His marginalisation mirrors earlier purges within Russia’s elite, suggesting that loyalty has fully eclipsed expertise in shaping the country’s international posture. The sidelining of Lavrov marks the end of an era in Russian diplomacy — and the rise of a system where foreign policy serves domestic power above all.
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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.