European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on Wednesday that Europe must strengthen its defenses to deter the “hybrid war” waged by Russia against it, following a series of air incursions, cyberattacks, and damage to undersea cables. In a speech to the European Parliament, she said, “These incidents are calculated to remain shrouded in ambiguity allowing for denial. They are not random nuisances but a coherent and escalating campaign.”

She added, “Two incidents might be accidental, but three, five, ten incidents by accident… this is a deliberate and targeted campaign against Europe, and Europe must respond.” Poland, Estonia, and Romania experienced Russian air incursions, while unidentified drones were spotted in Denmark, Germany, and Belgium.

Von der Leyen explained, “We must not only react but also deter. The mission on which the European Union was founded is to maintain peace, which today means having the capability to deter aggression and provocations.” EU leaders will seek to agree on a “roadmap” to counter Russian threats in the coming years during the Brussels summit this month.

In Berlin, the German government announced it will authorize its police to shoot down drones considered threats, noting ongoing discussions with Israel and Ukraine about their defenses against drones flying over sensitive sites suspected of Moscow’s involvement. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the bill allows police to use the latest technology to combat drone threats, establishing a “Drone Defense Center” to coordinate actions between federal and state authorities, in cooperation with experienced countries like Israel and Ukraine. He mentioned a “triple-digit” budget to equip police with necessary gear.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Russia is “likely” behind drone flights that halted Munich airport operations last weekend, describing the incidents as attempts to destabilize.

Russia confirmed on Wednesday that momentum toward a peace agreement in Ukraine after the meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump in Alaska has “dissipated,” according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who blamed Europe for the stalemate and warned that sending “Tomahawk” missiles to Ukraine would have “grave” consequences.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced there were no “nuclear safety implications” after a drone collided with a cooling tower at Russia’s Novovoronezh nuclear power plant, according to Russian company Rosenergoatom.

On the ground, three people were killed in a missile attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, while two others died in shelling on the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported partial destruction of social service infrastructure, while Kherson Governor Alexander Prokudin announced the deaths of two elderly people due to ongoing Russian raids since the city’s liberation in November 2022.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has launched intensive raids, while Kyiv responds with missile and limited drone attacks. Ukrainian forces reported that during the night of Tuesday-Wednesday, 154 out of 183 Russian drones attacking the country were shot down, with two thermal power plant workers injured and significant damage to the facility. The Russian military targeted energy infrastructure, railways, and oil depots in various Ukrainian regions, causing power outages, according to Chernihiv region Governor Vyacheslav Chaus.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko condemned what she described as Russian “deliberate and systematic terrorism” to deprive the country of light and heating as winter approaches, continuing the Russian campaign against energy facilities since 2022. The Russian army announced shooting down 53 Ukrainian drones over nine regions, mostly in western Russia, while Kyiv launched attacks on Russian refineries, causing gasoline prices to rise.