Podcast: Is Russia testing NATO with drones in Poland?
Russian drones entering Polish airspace was likely an attempt to "map gaps" in NATO's air defences, an expert has said.
Senior Associate Professor in Security at Bath University Dr Patrick Bury told the Behind the Story podcast that the types of drones used are usually used for reconnaissance.
"We’ve had incursions into Lithuanian airspace in July by a couple of these [drones] - so what this looks like is a Russian attempt to map the gaps in Polish and NATO air defences, which they have managed to do so quite considerably," he said.
"Some of them are landing 155 miles in from the border."
Poland said it scrambled aircraft overnight alongside allies to shoot down "hostile objects" violating its airspace during a Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine.
The incursion came as Russia unleashed a barrage of strikes across Ukraine.
Read more: United political front after Russian drones over Polish skies
Dr Bury said he believes this is a "cause for concern."
"The Ukrainians with their air defence are hitting about 90% to 95% of stuff that comes their way," he said.
"You can see the Poles and NATO scrambling to hit down 25%."
Dr Bury said while the intent is unclear, Russia could be trying to demonstrate that it can "stretch allied air defence out of Ukraine, because they’ve got a bigger priority - which is to defend the NATO border".
The former British army captain and NATO analyst said the drones could also be part of a larger plan by Russia to sow division.
Dr Bury said: "You’ve got to look at Russian interests.
"Is it in their interests at the moment to be in a toe-to-tow scrap with NATO - I would say no.
"Is it in their interests, though, to split the US off from European NATO [members] over something that would provoke a crisis, but there was not consensus across the alliance over whether it was an Article 5 or not: absolutely."
NATO’s Article 5 of collective defence means that an attack against one country is considered as an attack against all.
Katie, David and Fran also discuss the the death of 87-year-old Liam Farrell, who was found dead on his doorstep in Co Leitrim in 2020, ahead of a special Prime Time report on Thursday.
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