(WARSAW, POLAND) – Europe must provide Ukraine with sufficient military means to defend itself as the most effective deterrent against Russian sabotage operations across the continent, according to TVP World’s Editor-in-Chief Michał Broniatowski.
Speaking on News in Depth, Broniatowski said recent incidents in Germany and elsewhere have escalated beyond sabotage into what should be described as state terrorism.
“Some of these cases are not any more just sabotage. They are cases of state terrorism,” Broniatowski said. “I’m saying that not only because it was said by the top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas and Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski. They simply called it terrorism because it is terrorism.”
His comments follow a series of incidents across Europe, including an explosives-laden drone discovered at Leipzig Airport in Germany, a mid-air collision between a plane and an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle, and multiple fires at defence factories and logistics facilities.
Leipzig Airport Attack
German authorities have identified Russia as being behind the attempted attack on cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The attack involved drones carrying military grade explosives.
“If you attack a plane possibly full of munitions with a drone which is carrying military explosives and for some reason it doesn’t explode and is found later on the tarmac of a civilian airport, another drone hit a plane flying starting from the airport, another drone also equipped with explosives was found near the airport. So they were deployed in order to kill people, to kill non-combatants,” Broniatowski said.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser have both stated they have no doubts about Russian involvement.
Previous Attacks
Broniatowski referenced a previous attack in Poland in November last year, when two operatives linked to Russian security services detonated an explosive on rail tracks used by passenger trains travelling at 150 kilometres per hour.
“In both cases the involvement of Russian operatives was found as proof,” he said. “In the case of this railroad attack, which could have resulted with hundreds of fatalities, it was said clearly and openly by Poland’s prime minister what he thought it was, what he knew it was. It was namely an operation by Russian services.”
NATO Response
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has explicitly connected the incidents to a broader pattern of Russian activity.
“Russia has grown increasingly reckless as they continue their terrible war against Ukraine. We have seen more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk. And we have also seen an increase in malign activities targeting our territory directly,” Rutte said.
Rutte added: “If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threats or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken. Our unity is unshaken. Our support to Ukraine is clear.”
European Commission Response
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the Leipzig attack directly.
“We meet today to discuss Russia’s attack in Leipzig. The German government has identified Russia as behind an attempt to attack cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle airport. Had this attack succeeded, this would have resulted in enormous damage and possibly even loss of life,” von der Leyen said.
She added: “This was an attack using military grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil. We will not tolerate it.”
Deterrence Debate
Broniatowski said the most effective deterrent would be to conduct similar operations on Russian territory, but acknowledged this is unlikely.
“The best way to deter it would be to do the same thing on the Russian territory, but I don’t think it will happen because there’s nobody in Europe who would like to create such an escalation in the conflict,” he said.
Instead, he argued that providing Ukraine with adequate military support represents the most viable deterrence strategy.
“You have to deter Russia using our other means, like for example providing Ukraine with enough military means to not only defend themselves against massive attacks. In the last weeks Russia was attacking daily major cities in Ukraine, and on top with Kyiv. So if the west is capable of supporting Ukraine in defence against it, which means the efforts of Russian attacks are futile, this would be a deterrence,” Broniatowski said.
He noted that closing consulates, as Germany did, may be symbolically important but will not deter Russian operations.
“Closing consulates, which Germany did yesterday, may be symbolic and painful for the support of Russian spying operations. But of course it will not deter them,” he said.
Polish Response
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the recent incidents, describing them as part of a broader escalation.
“This is a continuation of escalation efforts by Russia throughout the entire region. Unfortunately, these are not the first such cases and most certainly what is worse, these are not the last incidents of this kind,” Tusk said.
Tusk added that the coming weeks and months will be critical for all states in the region.
Broniatowski noted that Poland has already closed all Russian consulates in the country following previous incidents.
“Sarcastically, all these similar actions of Russians in Poland resulted in closing already all of Russian consulates in Poland. So I’m wondering what will be the next diplomatic action if Russia goes for such an attack in Poland, and I have no doubts they will do something,” he said.
Political Influence
Broniatowski warned that Russian operations may be aimed at influencing political developments in Europe, particularly in Germany where far right parties are gaining support.
“Germany has elections in one of its states where far right is on the verge of winning majority. Russian actions may be aimed at creating larger support for people, and those who are supporting extreme right in Germany and elsewhere are also very pro-Russian and sceptical about Ukraine,” he said.
He noted that populist parties across Europe, including the AfD in Germany, the National Front in France and right-wing parties in Poland, benefit from Russian ideological or propaganda support.
The interview was conducted by TVP World’s Benjamin Lee on News in Depth.
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