Poland has deployed the 18th Engineer Regiment to reinforce border checkpoints after Russian drone strikes damaged infrastructure and struck a train near the frontier on September 13, 2026. NATO members reported related incidents: a drone shot down over Lithuania, an Italian jet intercepting a suspected Russian drone, and a Russian warship firing flares at a Danish helicopter. Allied leaders have pledged stronger eastern defenses while the U.S. is promoting a proposal for a mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure as a potential de-escalatory step.
Poland Strengthens Border Defenses After Russian Drone Strikes Near Ukraine
Lithuanian soldiers secure the area where a NATO fighter jet shot down a drone equipped with an explosive device early on Tuesday morning near Pratkunai village, Lithuania. - AP
Poland's Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on Tuesday that the government is reinforcing security along the Polish-Ukrainian border after recent Russian drone strikes near crossings raised alarm among NATO partners.
Border upgrades under way. Kosiniak-Kamysz said on X that "recent days show that Russia's actions threaten the security of all of Europe. In accordance with our government's decision, the infrastructure used by the Border Guard is being strengthened." He added that soldiers from the 18th Engineer Regiment have been deployed to bolster checkpoints and other border infrastructure.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed two strikes near the Polish border and claimed one of the hit trains was carrying military cargo. Ukrainian rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia provided a photo of a train damaged in a drone attack near the Poland border on September 13, 2026.
Related Incidents Across Europe
Lithuania: Military officials reported that a drone was shot down over Lithuanian airspace for the first time. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said the drone carried an explosive device that bomb-disposal teams neutralized; an investigation is ongoing to determine its origin.
Italy: Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said an Italian NATO fighter jet intercepted and shot down a drone that "most probably came from Russia," marking the second incident involving Italian fighter aircraft in a month. Crosetto stressed that such episodes underscore the importance of NATO's presence on the Eastern Flank.
A photo provided by the Ukrainian Ukrzaliznytsia Railway Company shows a train damaged in a Russian drone attack near Ukraine's border with Poland on Sunday, September 13, 2026. - Ukrainian Ukrzaliznytsia Railway/AP
Denmark: The Danish Armed Forces reported that a Russian warship fired two emergency flares at a Danish military helicopter conducting routine photographic observations in international waters. Denmark described the action as provocative; Ukraine's foreign minister publicly voiced support for Denmark and called for united action to deter further destabilizing moves.
Diplomacy and De-Escalation Efforts
Mark Rutte said that strikes close to NATO territory reflected Russian President Vladimir Putin's "desperation" and suggested an intent to "sow fear and terror." NATO leaders have pledged to reinforce defenses along the alliance's eastern border with Russia and Belarus.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly pushing for a mutual halt to attacks on energy infrastructure to prevent a further spike in global fuel prices. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop energy-related strikes, but both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Kremlin characterized the U.S. proposal as nonbinding.
Zelensky said a mutual halt on strikes against critical infrastructure could be "a first de-escalatory step," and that Ukraine would consider supporting measures that protect civilian energy systems. Ukraine has carried out sustained strikes on Russian fuel facilities in recent months, reducing Moscow's refining capacity and contributing to fuel shortages; Russia has responded by banning the foreign sale of diesel.
Outlook: The sequence of drone strikes and related incidents across NATO member states has heightened tensions and prompted allied governments to step up border protection and air defenses. Investigations are continuing into the origin of the drones and the circumstances of each incident.
Reporting contributed by CNN correspondents. Photograph supplied by Ukrzaliznytsia.
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