Zelensky warns Russia is testing NATO with drone incursions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a stark warning that Russia is deliberately testing NATO’s resolve through drone incursions into European airspace. Speaking on November 10, Zelensky accused Moscow of interpreting Europe’s cautious responses as a sign of weakness. He described these violations as calculated provocations aimed at assessing Europe’s reaction and America’s commitment to defending NATO allies.
Russia challenges Europe through hybrid warfare
Zelensky argued that drone incursions are part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy that also includes cyberattacks, sabotage, and electoral interference. “These actions are tests,” he said. “Every drone strike by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin serves as a probe to evaluate Europe’s capabilities.” He added that these incidents also gauge how the United States might respond to threats against NATO members in Europe.
The warning comes as unnamed drones have been sighted near critical infrastructure in multiple European nations. On November 9, three drones were spotted above Belgium’s Doel nuclear power plant, following earlier incidents at Belgian military bases, including Kleine Brogel, which hosts U.S. nuclear weapons. In response, the United Kingdom announced the deployment of Royal Air Force specialists to Belgium to counter drone threats, joining Germany and France in providing assistance.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken described the drone sightings near military installations as resembling “a spy operation,” noting that small drones first tested radio frequencies before larger drones arrived to “destabilize the area.” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that the incursions could be linked to disputes over the use of frozen Russian assets held in Belgium.
Kremlin denies intentional airspace violations
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on November 10 that peace negotiations remain at a standstill “through no fault of Russia,” accusing Ukraine and European nations of falsely believing Ukraine can achieve a military victory. Moscow continues to deny intentionally violating European airspace.
However, a study by GLOBSEC found that between January 2022 and July 2025, there were 110 sabotage incidents in Europe linked to Russia, 89 of which were successful. NATO has previously raised alarms over Russian drone incursions, including over Poland and airspace violations in Estonia. In response, NATO launched the Eastern Sentry program to deter further provocations.
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