Poland Pledges Tighter Border Security After Russian Drone Strikes Near Ukraine Frontier

Poland has pledged to tighten security along its border with Ukraine after a fresh wave of Russian drone strikes landed dangerously close to Polish territory, with Warsaw warning that Moscow appears poised to intensify its campaign against Ukraine's borders with European nations in the weeks ahead.

Strikes Land Near the Frontier

The warnings followed a drone strike on a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, reported to have hit minutes after a diplomatic delegation that included former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt had passed through the same railway station, according to Ukraine's state rail operator. A second strike hit near a separate crossing point between the two countries. Two of the drones involved in the broader wave of attacks are reported to have landed within kilometres of Polish soil.

Tusk Warns of Intensifying Russian Action

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, addressing reporters after a governmental security briefing in Warsaw, said the coming weeks and months would likely see intensified Russian activity, and that Poland could not rule out the escalation eventually touching its own territory. It was the second such warning he had issued in a matter of days. Polish officials pointed to intelligence assessments, including a recent briefing from the CIA, suggesting Russia may target border points and step up sabotage operations inside European countries as part of a broader effort to erode support for Kyiv.

Poland's Deputy Defence Minister described the drone strikes as a serious escalation, cautioning that any spillover into European territory could take the form of sabotage or a sharp intensification of hybrid warfare on a scale not seen before. Poland's Defence Minister also said the army had recovered what is believed to be a Russian military drone from the Baltic Sea near the country's coast, adding to a string of recent incidents that have put Polish and allied forces on heightened alert.

European and Kremlin Reactions

The European Union's top diplomat said the drone activity near Poland's border appeared designed to intimidate Western countries into scaling back support for Ukraine, and called for a show of continued solidarity rather than retreat. Poland's Foreign Minister separately stressed the alliance's military strength, arguing that European NATO air forces alone would be capable of severely degrading Russian oil infrastructure if Russia were to move against alliance territory.

The Kremlin, asked about the strike near the Polish border, said Russian forces continue operating across Ukrainian territory and would keep doing so, while suggesting that countries in the Global South could use their influence to encourage more flexibility from Kyiv. The exchange came alongside renewed diplomatic activity, with Russian President Vladimir Putin reported to have briefed other world leaders on the situation in Ukraine during recent meetings.

Pressure Over Refinery Strikes

The episode also intersected with a separate dispute over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Reports suggest pressure is mounting on Kyiv to scale back attacks on Russian refineries and fuel distribution networks, after diesel prices in some markets hit records in recent days. Ukraine has relied on such strikes to pressure Russia's war economy, and any pause would mark a significant shift in strategy as the conflict grinds into its fifth year.

For Poland and its NATO allies, the immediate priority remains reassurance along the frontier: more border patrols, closer coordination with Kyiv's rail and security services, and consultations with alliance partners on a joint response should the drone incursions continue or worsen.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.