Nato may need to hit back at hybrid warrior Russia

As Moscow provokes Europe with air incursions and the suspected bombing of a Polish train, it is increasingly likely that the alliance will act, warns world affairs.

- Sam Kiley

Russia stands accused of sabotage on Poland's railways.

The Kremlin attacked a gas-loaded tanker on the Romania border, forcing the evacuation of several villages in the country. Moscow has repeatedly flown drones into European airspace, and jets over Estonia.

These, plus waves of sabotage, cyber attacks, and social media propaganda, are acts of war. But they are all part of a hybrid war. And this malevolent blend allows Vladimir Putin to punch well above his weight.

Russia is the prime suspect in Monday’s bombing of the Warsaw to Lublin railway line, a main artery from Poland to Ukraine.

Poland’s security ministry said that “everything points to Russian sabotage”, after the blast on the railway and another attack in which the rails on the same route were cut.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk described the latest incident as an “unprecedented act”, and pinned the blame on two Ukrainians collaborating with Russia who are now believed to have fled to Belarus.

Tusk is angry - but these attacks are not unprecedented. And he knows better than any European leader what Russia is up to, after Poland was penetrated by at least 23 Russian drones in September.