While Ukraine tallies the death toll following another attack on civilians, tensions continue to rise across Europe as a hybrid war slowly, but modestly progresses, into a full-blown war fought in parallel with the war taking place on the ground. Missile warnings, drone violations, train sabotage and now even spy ships in British territorial waters risk triggering an escalation that is far more real than theoretical.
In addition to the obviously illegal breach, the Moscow ships would also divert powerful laser beams at British RAF pilots rushing to the scene. “We’re following you. We’re watching you. We’re ready,” said British Defense Minister John Healy. “This is the second time the Russian spy ship Yantar has wandered into UK territorial waters in recent months, used to obtain intelligence and monitor underwater cables. We have activated Royal Navy frigates and RAF aircraft. We are ready to respond, if the ship moves further south, we have several military options,” the minister warned. Russian vessels appear to have been in and out of British waters several times, off the northern coast of Scotland, and in recent weeks similar operations have also been used to spy on other countries, including the Netherlands. “We are in a new threat phase, this is a very dangerous act”, Haley warned, specifically referring to laser interference on airline pilots, another provocation signed by Moscow. “Over the last year we have seen Russian attacks on our airspace double, and we have seen 90,000 cyber attacks on UK defense systems. And as the threat increases, the UK will play its part,” explained the British Defense Minister without missing a beat.
These harsh but very clear words describe the situation in Europe which has apparently changed since the start of the invasion war in Ukraine. The hottest front was still on the Eastern side of the Alliance and its main focus was sabotage on the Polish railway, on the route carrying aid to Ukraine. Polish prosecutors have filed formal charges against two Ukrainian citizens suspected of carrying out “sabotage of a terrorist nature” on behalf of Russia. The two men, identified as Oleksandr K., 39, and Jewhenij I., 41, fled to Belarus after the explosion and are still being sought by Polish authorities. They also spread news that several people had been arrested in connection with acts of sabotage. “We need a strong response,” said EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. Also in Poland, Rzeszow and Lublin airports were closed and then reopened after several hours during the Russian raid in western Ukraine with Polish and Norwegian Allenaza fighter planes taking off as a precaution.
High tensions also occurred in Romania, where at night two German Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes serving as air police took off after detecting a drone signal that had intruded about 8 km into Bucharest’s national airspace.
Speaking of drones, the German federal army will also be able to work with police to shoot down drones caught flying over German airspace, and also announced the creation of a new drone defense unit. Clear signs of growing tensions. Signs of a very dangerous and risky war spread further.
