Russia is watching NATO drills, ISW warns
Russia has likely launched a Phase Zero campaign against NATO, ISW says (photo: Getty Images)
Poland believes Russia has changed its tactics and is closely monitoring NATO exercises near the Baltic Sea while preparing for possible provocations, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Officials in Warsaw have noted that Russia is monitoring NATO integrated air defense exercises near the Baltic Sea.
The Polish authorities concluded that this could be part of the so-called Phase Zero effort.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz quickly issued an official statement.
According to him, Warsaw scrambled fighter jets and intercepted two Russian Su-30SM2 fighter aircraft operating from the Kaliningrad region.
He also said that Swedish aircraft escorted a Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Despite this, the Russian aircraft did not approach Polish airspace.
"ISW continues to assess that Russia is conducting a Phase Zero campaign that aims to set informational and psychological conditions for potential future provocations against NATO," the US-based analysts said.
The latest developments come as concerns over Russia's military activity continue to grow across Europe.
NATO recently responded for the first time to the resignation of Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, while a Russian missile nearly disrupted the Alliance summit in Ankara.
Separately, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently identified the countries he believes are most at risk of renewed Russian aggression.
