EU Confidential Jourová’s secrets and Putin’s drone tests
Sep 19, 2025
Věra Jourová, former European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, shares inside stories from her Brussels tenure, reflecting on political clashes and her new life in Prague as a university vice-rector. Jan Cienski delves into Russia's drone incursions, analyzing NATO's response and the geopolitical dilemmas posed by these incursions. Eva Hartog unpacks Kremlin motives and the narratives spun by Russian media, emphasizing the broader implications for European unity and security.
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Drones As Probes Not Just Weapons
- Putin used cheap drone incursions to probe NATO's defenses, unity, and political resolve.
- The incidents exposed NATO's vulnerabilities more than they were decisive military attacks.
Scale And Intent Of The Incursion
- Around 19 drones entered Polish airspace, mostly from Ukraine, some from Belarus, and appeared deliberate not accidental.
- They were largely unarmed but carried cameras, suggesting surveillance and testing of responses.
Provocation Value Exceeds Physical Damage
- Entering NATO airspace en masse is inherently provocative because it tests detection and allied coordination.
- The primary value for Russia may be intelligence on response times and capability gaps rather than immediate damage.
