European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on October 8 that Russia has launched a campaign to unsettle EU citizens by sending drones into European airspace, writes Politico.
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said that something unusual and dangerous is happening in European skies, and it can no longer be considered an isolated incident: “It is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union, and weaken our support for Ukraine.” The politician said it is time to call it by its real name – hybrid warfare.
In the past month, European countries have increasingly reported sightings of drones, and they have been seen in Poland, Romania, Germany, Norway, Denmark and the Baltic states. Some, such as drones used in the war against Ukraine, which were spotted in Polish and Romanian airspace, have been identified as belonging to Russia. The origin of others has been more difficult to determine.
In response to the potential threats, Copenhagen temporarily banned the use of drones
in Denmark in early October. NATO has activated the Eastern Sentry program to deal with weaknesses in the alliance’s airspace defense. Von der Leyen has encouraged the creation of a wall of drones, but this idea has been sharply criticized for its costs and feasibility.
On the 8th of October, the EC President indicated that protecting the eastern border alone is not enough, and a broader approach is needed. She said that to counter Russia’s hybrid warfare techniques, more than traditional defense is needed. The EU must be ready with software for drones, spare parts for pipelines, and rapid response teams on cybersecurity issues must be created and information campaigns must be created. “This requires a new mindset for all of us,” von der Leyen added.
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