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Russia Is Using Drones to Test NATO’s Air Defenses, Zelenskyy Warns
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is using drones not only to attack Ukraine, but also to pressure NATO countries and test how their air defenses respond when Russian UAVs move toward allied territory.
Speaking in an interview with Face the Nation on May 31, Zelenskyy said Ukraine tries to intercept Russian drones even when they are flying toward neighboring countries, including Romania, Moldova, Poland, and the Baltic states.
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“We are trying to intercept all Russian drones, even when some of them are going in the direction of other countries, like Romania, Moldova, Poland, or the Baltic states. If we can’t, we immediately notify our partners and try to help them,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian President said Moscow uses such incidents as a warning to NATO members that support Kyiv.
We are trying to intercept all Russian drones, even when some of them are going in the direction of other countries, like Romania, Moldova, Poland, or the Baltic states. If we can't, we immediately notify our partners and try to help them.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 31, 2026
Russia uses drones to pressure NATO… pic.twitter.com/YH0vAlV69J
“Russia uses drones to pressure NATO countries and gauge the reaction. This is their typical message: Don’t help Ukraine. I think there should be a stronger response from a united NATO,” he said.
According to Zelenskyy, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is comparing NATO’s current response to what Moscow has seen in previous years and is also probing the air defense capabilities of countries bordering Russia or Belarus.
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“Putin is comparing this reaction to what he saw in previous years. And he is also testing air defenses of NATO countries bordering Russia or Belarus. Are they capable of intercepting all the missiles and drones?” Zelenskyy said.
His remarks come after repeated incidents in which Russian drones launched during attacks on Ukraine crossed or approached the airspace of neighboring European countries, raising concerns about NATO’s ability to respond quickly to low-cost aerial threats near its eastern flank.
Earlier, a Russian Geran drone crossed into NATO airspace and hit a Romanian apartment building, injuring civilians, and triggering Bucharest’s demand for faster anti-drone defenses.
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