The Polish general said Warsaw had downed Russian drones in its airspace, faced thousands of cyber-attacks and foiled rail sabotage that could have killed 473 passengers.
He urged NATO to prepare stronger collective retaliation, saying hybrid attacks could eventually justify Article 5, while warning Europe must shoulder more defence responsibility even as US commitment appears less clear.
Poland is expanding its military to 300,000, spending 4.8% of GDP on defence, accelerating drone warfare reforms and discussing an extended French nuclear deterrent after Russian weapons moved into Belarus.
As Russia's 'shadow war' escalates, how can NATO counter attacks designed to fall just short of triggering Article 5?
With Poland seeking French nuclear weapons, is Europe preparing for a future without the full American security guarantee?
Is Poland’s massive military buildup a necessary deterrent, or could it dangerously provoke the very war it seeks to prevent?
November 2025 Railway Sabotage Sparks Poland’s Massive Military Expansion and Hybrid Defense
Overview
In November 2025, Russian proxies attempted a sophisticated sabotage on a key Polish-Ukrainian railway, disrupting vital supply lines to Ukraine and heightening public fear. This attack was part of Russia's broader hybrid strategy to weaken NATO by recruiting vulnerable individuals for sabotage, weaponizing migration through Belarus, and spreading disinformation to deepen societal divisions in Poland. In response, Poland launched Operation Horizon, deploying 10,000 troops to protect critical infrastructure, acquired advanced anti-drone systems, and developed citizen reporting tools. Simultaneously, Poland accelerated military modernization and explored nuclear deterrence options, while NATO grappled with balancing effective countermeasures and upholding international norms amid escalating hybrid threats.