Military experts have warned NATO must take seriously the recent drone incursions into eastern Europe or risk invasion, after Russia tested the military alliance's resolve with intrusions into foreign airspace last week.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE, a former British Army colonel, told the Daily Mail that he has 'no doubt' that Russian President Vladimir Putin will keep going, after UAVs repeatedly breached NATO airspace in eastern Europe.
Poland called the intrusion a deliberate provocation, as Russia insisted it had not targeted objects in Polish territory. European allies have rushed to organise an 'Eastern Sentry' mission, bolstering the eastern frontier with greater materiel.
'NATO has suddenly woken up - or finally woken up,' said de Bretton-Gordon. 'We played lip service to the peace dividend ... really giving the impression to Putin that we weren't that bothered and we didn't care. So in a way, it is slightly our own fault. We've got a show resolve now, otherwise he will keep going.'
Between 19 and 23 drones entered Polish airspace on September 9, with NATO scrambling a multinational force of jets to shoot several down. Romania then accused Russia of breaching its airspace on September 13, as Latvia reported a drone crashing in its east. On Monday, Poland said a civilian drone flown over its presidential palace was another 'provocation'. Two Belarusians were arrested.
