The U.S. Warned Poland of a Possible Russian Provocation on Its Territory, The Telegraph Reports

According to Washington, Russia may launch missile and drone strikes against critical infrastructure in Poland. Another scenario being considered by US officials is Russian troops crossing NATO’s border.

The publication’s sources say the United States has sent Warsaw several warnings about a possible operation.

The purpose of such actions, The Telegraph’s sources say, may be to escalate tensions and try to force Western allies to suspend aid to Ukraine. The operation, they claim, could be carried out in the coming months.

According to Onet sources, possible scenarios include drone attacks on critical infrastructure, including power plants, as well as simulated airstrikes that would force Poland to activate its air-defense systems.

One source in Polish intelligence suggested that, in the most severe scenario, it could involve a “hybrid attack in the border region.”

“Russia could present this as an accidental crossing of Polish territory because of a GPS failure, or as a dubious rescue operation to evacuate a helicopter that had suffered a malfunction,” the report says.

According to the sources, Moscow may be counting on Poland, under pressure from the United States, not opening fire on Russian or Belarusian troops and instead being forced to enter negotiations with Russia or Belarus.

“A scenario in which the Russians left Poland as a result of such negotiations, rather than because they were forced to do so militarily, would be seen in Moscow as a victory. The suspension of Western support for Ukraine could even become Russia’s central demand in such talks in exchange for withdrawing troops from Poland,” the publication writes.

A senior official in Poland’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Warsaw considers a Russian provocation possible. At the same time, he said Poland had already conducted exercises intended to show Moscow NATO’s readiness to deliver a devastating response.

Onet sources note that a possible Russian operation would not resemble a “classic” or conventional war. According to them, Moscow has not yet made a final decision on whether to carry it out.