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Drones were spotted over Denmark and Lithuania Saturday, stoking increased security concerns and fears of growing Russian aggression.
The sightings were the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent weeks, with previous violations to NATO airspace in Estonia, Poland, and Romania.
In Denmark, drones were spotted near several military facilities overnight, and units of the Danish Armed Forces deployed in response.
The incident came after several drone sightings in the Nordic country earlier this week, including over four airports overnight Wednesday, and in the skies above Copenhagen Monday, grounding flights in the Danish capital for hours.
In Lithuania, three drones were spotted flying near the capital Vilnius’ airport Friday, Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported.
“Russia is testing Europe’s ability to defend itself and trying to influence societies so that people start thinking: ‘Why are we giving everything to the Ukrainians when we can’t even protect ourselves?’” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X Saturday.
“Putin is testing what the Europeans have.”
Zelensky also revealed 92 drones were heading for Poland during the incursion of its airspace earlier this month. Ukraine shot down most, he said, except for the 19 that made it into the NATO country.
The sightings come as the Kremlin continues pounding on war-torn Ukraine.
Two civilians were killed and at least 36 people were hurt across the country, after a new round of Russian attacks late Friday and early Saturday, authorities said.
In the key battleground region of Donetsk, where Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has sent the bulk of his troops in recent months as he eyes full control of the partly occupied territory, more than 600 people were evacuated Saturday, after air strikes targeted houses, high-rises and a church.
“In just a day, the Russians shelled the settlements of Donetsk region 40 times,” Governor Vadym Filashkin wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian air defenses managed to take out 97 of the 115 drones launched by Russia over the country.
Meanwhile Ukraine struck an oil pumping station in Russia’s Chuvash Republic, forcing it to suspend operations, a Russian official said Saturday.
The move came after Russia introduced a partial ban on diesel exports until the end of the year and extended an existing ban on gasoline exports Thursday, following a spate of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries.
The ban doesn’t impact crude exports, which President Trump has called on countries to stop buying.
