Throughout September 2025, Russian drones and fighter jets breached the airspace of NATO members Poland, Romania, and Estonia, most notably a drone incursion into Poland on September 10 and a 12-minute MiG-31 fighter jet entry into Estonia on September 17. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western concerns as unfounded, while Russian media promoted narratives blaming Ukraine for orchestrating these breaches to provoke NATO and secure Western financial support. Following the Polish drone violations, NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry to reinforce its eastern flank. Estonia's airspace breach was labeled by Kremlin media as NATO hysteria and disinformation aimed at escalating Baltic tensions. Concurrently, Russia held the Zapad-2025 military exercise, which Kremlin media framed as defensive and highlighting supposed Russian technological advances. Lithuanian military analysts note that Russian propaganda focused on undermining NATO's air defense credibility and portraying NATO as the aggressor. These hostile narratives seek to erode trust among NATO members and sustain Moscow's narrative of an active conflict with the alliance.

Throughout September 2025, Russian drones and fighter jets breached the airspace of NATO members Poland, Romania, and Estonia, most notably a drone incursion into Poland on September 10 and a 12-minute MiG-31 fighter jet entry into Estonia on September 17. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western concerns as unfounded, while Russian media promoted narratives blaming Ukraine for orchestrating these breaches to provoke NATO and secure Western financial support. Following the Polish drone violations, NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry to reinforce its eastern flank. Estonia's airspace breach was labeled by Kremlin media as NATO hysteria and disinformation aimed at escalating Baltic tensions. Concurrently, Russia held the Zapad-2025 military exercise, which Kremlin media framed as defensive and highlighting supposed Russian technological advances. Lithuanian military analysts note that Russian propaganda focused on undermining NATO's air defense credibility and portraying NATO as the aggressor. These hostile narratives seek to erode trust among NATO members and sustain Moscow's narrative of an active conflict with the alliance.