Amid escalating tensions between Russia on one side and NATO and the European Union on the other, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Russian foreign intelligence warned of Ukrainian preparations for a dangerous provocation.

In a statement on Tuesday, it explained that “Kyiv is preparing an operation in Poland involving a sabotage reconnaissance group that will claim its members are from Russia and Belarus,” according to TASS agency.

It did not rule out that this operation would simulate “an attack on critical infrastructure facilities in Poland to create a wide resonance.”

Furthermore, Russian intelligence considered that Ukraine “will not abandon attempts to draw European NATO countries into an armed confrontation with Moscow.” It said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “is ready, in the face of inevitable defeat, to bear all harsh consequences under the Europeans’ cover even if it costs igniting a major war.”

This came as NATO chief Mark Rutte earlier today held Russia responsible for its drones violating the airspace of Estonia and Poland.

Rutte also stressed the need to develop a plan to deal with the drones. Before participating in the security meeting of the Commissioners in Brussels, he said: “We cannot shoot down a drone with missiles worth millions of dollars.”

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the necessity of a strong response to the Russian drone incursions inside EU countries’ borders. She announced an agreement with Ukraine to allocate two billion euros to develop drones.

Several NATO member states have recently witnessed a series of airspace violations by Russian planes and drones. These incidents have posed an unprecedented test to the credibility of the defensive military alliance, while Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure facilities.