The violation of Polish airspace by a swarm of Russian drones has drawn Europe into one of its gravest security moments since the end of the Cold War. For Warsaw, which endured repeated invasions in the last century, the episode is not just another tactical breach but a chilling reminder of its vulnerability on the eastern frontier. When the Polish Prime Minister warns that the nation is closer to open conflict than at any time since World War II, he is not indulging in rhetoric ~ he is pointing to the shifting boundaries of Europe’s security order.

What makes this incursion different from earlier violations is its scale and character. Nineteen separate incursions, some drones shot down, others crashing deep inside Poland, and one damaging a civilian home, cannot credibly be dismissed as navigational errors. While Moscow has predictably denied deliberate intent, the sheer numbers involved suggest otherwise. This was not an isolated glitch; it........

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