Topic: NATO
-
Rome prosecutors expose Russian spy network at embassies in Italy and the Vatican
An investigation by the Rome prosecutor's office, published by the Italian newspaper Riformista, has exposed a network of Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover at Russia's embassies in Italy and the Vatican. Named suspects include GRU and SVR operatives tasked with espionage against NATO-linked targets, recruitment for sabotage, and monitoring of the Holy See's activities on Ukrainian children deported to Russia.
-
Czech PM Babiš proposes joint European missile defense system called Euro Patriot
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš proposed creating a joint European missile defense system named Euro Patriot at the Prague Defense Summit. He framed the proposal as a response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call for Europe to develop its own ballistic, anti-ballistic, and counter-drone defense capabilities, and suggested Europe could acquire licenses to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles.
-
Estonia ready to close border with Russia immediately if Moscow announces general mobilization, PM says
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that Estonia is prepared to immediately close its border with Russia should Moscow announce general mobilization. The statement was made at a government press conference alongside Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and follows an Estonian government review of a scenario document on a possible Russian mobilization.
-
Russian Gerbera drone shot down over Lithuania after being diverted by Ukrainian EW
A Russian Gerbera-type drone, originally heading toward Ukraine, was diverted off course by Ukrainian electronic warfare and shot down over Lithuanian airspace on the night of September 15 by Italian NATO air-policing fighter jets — the first such drone interception in Lithuania. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said the incident was most likely not a deliberate attack on Lithuania, but warned similar events could recur.
-
Germany reviews hospital readiness for potential conflict with Russia
Germany is conducting a large-scale review of its hospitals to assess their ability to cope with a potential military conflict, including a possible Russia–NATO war. The Bundeswehr is considering reopening a Cold War-era underground medical bunker in Ulm, while training programs are being expanded to address a shortage of combat trauma specialists. Officials warn that Germany's five military hospitals would be overwhelmed by a worst-case scenario of up to 1,000 wounded soldiers arriving per day.
-
Russia hits Poland-Ukraine border crossing with drone strike
Russia launched a drone strike on an international road checkpoint on the Poland-Ukraine border, according to reported information. The attack targeted a border crossing with a NATO and EU member state, raising escalation concerns.
-
Russian drone strikes passenger train near Ukrainian-Polish border; diplomatic train with European officials had just left
On the morning of 13 September 2026, a Russian jet-powered mesh drone struck the locomotive of a Kyiv-to-Warsaw passenger train at the Yahodyn station, about two kilometres from the Polish border in Volyn Oblast. A diplomatic train carrying former European leaders and current security advisors, returning from the YES conference in Kyiv, had departed the station shortly before the strike. No one was injured. Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) suggested the diplomatic train may have been the intended target; the Institute for the Study of War assessed the strike was meant to wound or kill European officials leaving Ukraine.
-
Germany plans €3.4 billion purchase of US Tomahawk missiles and Typhon launchers
Germany's Ministry of Defence is preparing to allocate nearly €3.4 billion to buy American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon launchers, according to an internal government planning document seen by Politico. The acquisition would give Germany its first ground-based long-range strike capability, which it currently lacks, and is framed by Berlin as a step to deter Russia.
-
Lithuania lifts drone alert after fighter jet confirms radar return was birds
Lithuanian authorities declared an air danger over parts of the country on 13 September, scrambled NATO fighter jets and briefly suspended Vilnius Airport over a suspected drone. The alert was lifted after a NATO pilot visually confirmed the radar return was a flock of birds, though earlier officials had said the object was most likely a drone.
-
Russian drones strike Kyiv-Warsaw train and infrastructure near Polish border, prompting Polish emergency meeting
On the morning of September 13, 2026, Russian drones struck infrastructure near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk international border crossing on the Ukraine-Poland border in Volyn Oblast, damaging a gas station, hitting a truck on the Polish side, and striking the locomotive of a Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train about two kilometers from the Polish border. Poland scrambled fighter jets, issued air alerts in Lublin and Podkarpackie voivodeships, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an emergency meeting at the Government Centre for Security, warning that Russian escalation could reach Polish territory in the coming weeks. No passengers or railway workers were injured in the locomotive strike after a Ukrzaliznytsia monitoring group warned the crew in advance and gave an evacuation signal roughly 15 minutes before impact.
-
Germany identifies two suspects in Leipzig airport drone attack, blames Russia
German investigators have named a Belarusian citizen and a Russian linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU) as the main suspects in the 4 August drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport. A drone carrying explosives hidden in a vegetable tin can landed next to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft but failed to detonate because of a faulty detonator. On 1 September, Germany officially blamed Russia for the incident and announced the closure of the Russian consulate general in Bonn and the termination of the agreement on the "Russian House" in Berlin; Moscow responded by closing the German consulate general in St. Petersburg and Goethe cultural centers.
-
Drone from Ukraine crosses Moldova and crashes in Romania's Suceava county
On 12 September, an unauthorized drone entered Moldovan airspace from Ukraine, prompting Moldova to temporarily close parts of its airspace before the device crashed in a cornfield in Romania's Suceava county. Romanian F-16 fighters were scrambled to monitor the situation, RO-Alert messages were issued for Suceava and Botoșani counties, and several civilian flights were delayed. No casualties were reported.
-
EU approves €6.1 billion credit for Ukraine to buy drones and Patriot missiles
The European Commission has formally approved a €6.1 billion credit tranche for Ukraine, earmarked for drones and missiles for Patriot air defense systems, including PAC-3 interceptors. The decision required five separate EU member-state derogations from standard procurement rules to allow EU funds to be used for arms purchases from third countries, including the United States, and for Ukrainian-made drones exceeding price thresholds.
-
Poland scrambles twice in one day as Russian drones hit western Ukraine
On 10 September, Poland's Operational Command raised the readiness of its air forces twice in response to Russian jet-type drone activity over western Ukraine. Polish fighters, ground-based air defence and radar systems were activated, airspace restrictions were introduced in the east, SMS alerts were sent to residents of two border voivodeships, and flights at Lublin and Rzeszów airports were suspended. No violations of Polish airspace were recorded, and the alerts were cancelled once the threat had passed.
-
Norwegian PM says drone nearly hit Zelensky's plane in Moldova; Ukrainian side calls claim 'exaggerated'
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on September 9 that a drone nearly struck the plane carrying President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as it departed Moldova for Oslo on September 8, where Zelenskyy was to attend the funeral of King Harald V. Norwegian and Ukrainian officials later said the flight was delayed by a Moldovan airspace closure caused by Russian drones, and that it remained unknown how close the drones came to the aircraft. Zelenskyy attended the funeral on September 9 and left Norway shortly afterward.
-
At virtual Ramstein meeting, Germany announces Patriot interceptors and 'City Dome' shield for Ukraine
At the 36th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on 8 September, held virtually, Germany announced the urgent transfer of PAC-2 Patriot interceptors and additional AIM-9 missiles from Bundeswehr stocks, launched the 'City Dome' project to shield Ukrainian cities from drone and missile strikes, and committed to financing tens of thousands of long-range artillery shells. The UK pledged £100 million through PURL for air defense, the EU approved financing for 3.2 billion euros of Patriot missiles, and Ukraine outlined plans to contract around 1,000 Patriot missiles and several thousand additional IRIS-T missiles with partner support. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said civilian deaths in Ukraine are at their highest since May 2022 and warned that delays cost lives.
-
Russia hits Kyiv with massive missile and drone attack hours after Trump envoys leave
Russia launched a combined missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on September 7–8, striking the capital with ballistic and cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and 166 strike drones. At least two people were killed, more than 50 civilian objects were damaged across multiple districts, and air defenses downed 175 of the incoming targets. The attack came shortly after US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left the city following talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
-
EU approves €3.2 billion tranche for Ukraine to buy Patriot interceptors under €90 billion loan
EU member states have approved a derogation allowing Ukraine to purchase critical products for Patriot air defense systems — notably US-made PAC-3 interceptors — using funds from the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The next disbursement under the loan is €3.2 billion, on top of €8.4 billion already provided. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte jointly welcomed the decision.
-
Russian strike on Orlivka border crossing with Romania forces second suspension in a week
On the night of September 5–6, 2026, Russian forces struck border infrastructure in Izmail district of Odesa Oblast, causing the Orlivka international ferry crossing checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Romanian border to suspend operations for the second time within roughly a week. Romanian radar detected inbound aerial targets and the country declared a brief air-raid alert; no violation of Romanian airspace was recorded. Operations resumed on the morning of September 7.
-
Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend carrying war-ending proposal
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on the evening of September 4 that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Moscow on Saturday September 5 and then to Kyiv on Sunday September 6, carrying a proposal to end the war. Zelensky said Ukraine would ensure the normal functioning of Russian airspace and refrain from strikes during the visit, and called on Russia to reciprocate with silence. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House the same day that the envoys are bringing a peace proposal and described the mission as having a good chance of success.