Russia's Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Maria Zakharova, demanded Poland reopen its border with Belarus on September 11th, 2025, accusing Warsaw of "escalation" after Poland announced a full border closure starting September 12th during the Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 military drills. Zakharova claimed the closure would harm international business. This development follows earlier reports of widespread Ukrainian drone activity targeting Russia, including Kaliningrad and Smolensk, and a significant Polish military deployment along its borders with Belarus and Russia. The Ukrainian Air Force also noted a threat of ballistic weapons. In related security measures, France deployed three Rafale fighter jets to Poland, and NATO doubled its fighter presence over the country, while Latvia closed its airspace along its borders with Russia and Belarus as a precaution. Sweden also announced an $836 million military aid package for Ukraine on September 11th, 2025. Previous reports indicated over 115 Ukrainian drones had crossed into Russia's Bryansk region, with many targeting Smolensk, causing explosions and fires, notably at a Lukoil facility. Ryanair's CEO warned that Russian drones would disrupt European skies for years, calling for tougher sanctions on Moscow.
