On September 9, 2025, Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) crossed into NATO airspace over Poland, where the Polish armed forces shot down three drones. This incident triggered a NATO military response involving Polish, Dutch, and Italian aircraft. Since then, Russian drone incursions have continued, including multiple violations of Romanian airspace and detections of small drones around critical infrastructure in Europe. Notably, on December 4, unidentified drones flew near a French naval base hosting nuclear ballistic missile submarines. These drone operations are part of Russia's expanding hybrid warfare strategy, aiming to test NATO readiness, conduct reconnaissance, disrupt critical sites, and foment fear among European populations. European and NATO responses include updated shoot-down rules in Germany and Romania, creation of an EU 'drone wall' air defence system planned for 2027, and NATO's Operation Eastern Sentry focused on countering air incursions. Poland and Romania are deploying new drone-specific air defence systems. These events reflect an escalation in Russia’s grey-zone tactics designed to erode NATO cohesion and destabilize support for Ukraine, raising concerns for allied countries including Canada due to potential conflict escalation and Article 5 commitments.

On September 9, 2025, Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) crossed into NATO airspace over Poland, where the Polish armed forces shot down three drones. This incident triggered a NATO military response involving Polish, Dutch, and Italian aircraft. Since then, Russian drone incursions have continued, including multiple violations of Romanian airspace and detections of small drones around critical infrastructure in Europe. Notably, on December 4, unidentified drones flew near a French naval base hosting nuclear ballistic missile submarines. These drone operations are part of Russia's expanding hybrid warfare strategy, aiming to test NATO readiness, conduct reconnaissance, disrupt critical sites, and foment fear among European populations. European and NATO responses include updated shoot-down rules in Germany and Romania, creation of an EU 'drone wall' air defence system planned for 2027, and NATO's Operation Eastern Sentry focused on countering air incursions. Poland and Romania are deploying new drone-specific air defence systems. These events reflect an escalation in Russia’s grey-zone tactics designed to erode NATO cohesion and destabilize support for Ukraine, raising concerns for allied countries including Canada due to potential conflict escalation and Article 5 commitments.