NATO Chiefs of Staff discussed recent airspace violations by Russian forces. The President of Latvia called for strengthening air defense and transforming Baltic air policing into an air defense mission.
An unknown drone was spotted over the Valajaskoski hydropower plant in Rovaniemi, Finland. This incident occurred after the country's power plants were declared no-fly zones.
The Russian warship "Yantar" repeatedly entered British and Irish waters from autumn 2023 to November 2024, stopping over key communication cables. The vessel, equipped with underwater vehicles, is capable of connecting to cables to intercept data or plant explosives.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated at the Ecosystem Summit in Berlin on September 26 that peace in the Federal Republic of Germany can no longer be discussed. He listed actions that concerned him, including drone flights, espionage, and cyberattacks, and also highlighted the war in Ukraine as an attempt to shift borders by military force in Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects the approval of the 19th EU sanctions package and steps from the US. He hopes that Hungary will hear a key NATO ally and respect US President Donald Trump, who criticizes buyers of Russian oil.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defense refutes President Zelenskyy's statements about Hungarian drones violating Ukrainian airspace. The agency claims that it has not received any information about such incidents from the Ukrainian side.
Maria Zakharova stated that Ukraine allegedly plans to use Russian drones, brought to the Yavoriv training ground, for attacks on NATO countries.
Unknown drones have been detected over Schleswig-Holstein, posing new challenges for NATO. According to Andriy Kovalenko, the Ukrainian army is the only one in Europe that can teach the Alliance how to counter this threat.
European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius emphasized the need for the EU to develop additional capabilities to combat drones. He noted that this requires drawing on Ukraine's experience, as well as focusing on drone detection and the use of traditional artillery.
Ukraine has expressed its readiness to participate in the "Drone Wall" project, initiated by the European Commission, and to play an active role in protecting Europe from the Russian drone threat. Kyiv expects to sign a joint declaration with partners in October and is ready to share its experience in the field of unmanned technologies.
President Zelenskyy heard a report on reconnaissance drones entering Ukrainian airspace from Hungarian territory. He ordered all available data to be checked and an immediate report on each recorded fact.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with Axios that NATO should shoot down Russian drones and planes if they violate airspace. He called the reaction to previous incidents weak, which allowed Russia to continue violations.
The Ministry of Defense of Moldova and the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine denied information about alleged mass distribution of conscription notices in Chisinau. These reports were called fake, aimed at destabilizing the situation and manipulating public opinion on the eve of elections.
Russia financed trips for Moldovan Orthodox priests to Moscow and provided them with debit cards, after which the clergy created Telegram channels to influence elections in Moldova. The campaign's goal was to warn believers about integration with the EU and promote traditional Russian values.
The airspace over Aalborg Airport in Denmark reopened on Friday after an overnight closure due to suspected drone activity. This marks the second such incident in a few days, raising security concerns.
Oil prices rose, reaching their highest weekly gain since June, due to attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which led to a reduction in fuel exports and a decrease in oil production. Brent futures rose to $69.55 per barrel, and WTI to $62.22 per barrel.
US President Donald Trump's angry rhetoric towards Russia is a "negotiating tactic" aimed at pressuring the Kremlin. This approach is driven by Trump's frustration with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that Russian planes provoking NATO should be shot down when entering the Alliance's airspace. He commented on the interception of five Russian military aircraft near the Latvian border by Hungarian fighters.
Diplomats from Great Britain, France, and Germany warned the Kremlin that NATO is ready to respond to airspace violations, including by shooting down Russian planes. This happened after three MiG-31 fighters intruded over Estonia.
Two Hungarian Gripen fighter jets intercepted five Russian military aircraft on September 25. This happened near Lithuanian airspace, demonstrating Hungary's commitment to protecting the Baltic states.
"Unknown" drones were recorded over the Mourmelon-le-Grand military base in France on the night of September 21-22. The incident was called "exceptional," and an investigation is underway.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, stated that Russia is lying about the start of a world war if its planes are shot down by NATO countries. He recalled the 2015 incident when Turkey shot down a Russian bomber.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Ukraine will continuously receive American weapons, financed by NATO countries under the PURL initiative. $2 billion has already been allocated for aid packages.
Romanian Minister of National Defense Ionuț Moșteanu announced the completion of the development of a methodology for applying legislation regarding the shooting down of drones and manned military aircraft that violate airspace. The procedure includes identification, jamming, and intervention, with shooting down being a last resort after other steps have been ignored.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte supported Donald Trump's statement that NATO member countries should shoot down Russian drones and planes if they enter their airspace, if such a step is necessary. NATO military personnel are trained to assess such threats and determine further actions.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha participated in a meeting on the downing of flight MH17, emphasizing the need for an international response to Russia's impunity. He stressed that holding Russia accountable for the downing of the passenger plane is a test for international law.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed incidents involving drones over Danish airports, calling them “serious. ” The parties agreed on NATO's cooperation with Denmark to ensure the security of critical infrastructure, as the incidents could be part of a “hybrid attack.”
Poland plans to change its legislation to allow its military to act independently against Russian drones over Ukraine, removing bureaucratic restrictions from 2022. A Ministry of Defense bill, submitted in June, would allow drones to be shot down without NATO and EU approval.
Turkey has deployed an advanced AWACS radar aircraft to Lithuania to bolster defenses in the Baltic region following Russian airspace violations. The mission will last until Thursday, with the aircraft capable of detecting low-flying objects.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the possibility of shooting down Russian fighter jets that violate NATO airspace. This position is supported by US President Donald Trump and Czech President Petr Pavel.
