Image Credentials: Image Title: Moscow Declares NATO ‘At War’ With Russia, Poland Urges Caution Source: (Sora.ChatGpt) Date: September 2025. Attribution: Created using AI-generated imagery (Sora.ChatGpt), this does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Russia escalated its rhetoric on Monday by claiming that NATO is already at war with Moscow, a framing that the alliance and key member states have not endorsed despite rising tensions over drone incursions into Polish territory.
“NATO is at war with Russia. This is obvious, and it does not require any additional evidence,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, doubling down on Moscow’s long-standing argument that Western military and political support for Ukraine amounts to direct participation in the conflict.
For the very first time, the official spokesman for the Kremlin in Moscow, Dmitry Peskov has said publicly "NATO is at war with Russia."
October,November 2025 all kicks of in SHTF as Russian missiles to head for #UnitedStates #uk #europe & Nato territories all hell chaos comes pic.twitter.com/P5WqIUsPLA— David Ofosu-Appiah 🇬🇧🏴🇬🇭 (@nanakumi1976) September 15, 2025
Poland Pushes Back on Russian Claims
Warsaw has been central to the latest dispute after several drones crossed into Polish airspace last week. Polish officials described the incidents as deliberate incursions, while Moscow insisted they were either mistakes or provocations.
Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, argued that his country’s defense ministry had already offered consultations. He accused Poland of refusing dialogue and suggested Warsaw was inflating the threat. “It looks like a provocation or a misunderstanding that the Polish side does not want to clarify,” Ulyanov wrote on Telegram.
Belarus, Moscow’s close ally, provided a different explanation, claiming the drones had strayed due to electronic navigation jamming. Neither Warsaw nor NATO found the narrative convincing.
NATO Responds With Eastern Sentry
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced on Friday that the alliance had launched “Eastern Sentry,” a mission designed to reinforce forces on its eastern flank and signal readiness to respond to any aggression. Rutte condemned the drone incursions, calling them “reckless and unacceptable” regardless of whether they were intentional.
The initiative places additional NATO assets along Russia’s border and serves as a deterrent posture, highlighting the alliance’s commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of its charter.
Washington’s Measured Line
The United States, which leads NATO’s military command, has echoed concerns but avoided conclusions about Russia’s intent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the drones were “intentionally launched” but stressed that more evidence was needed to determine whether they had been aimed specifically at Poland.
“We think it’s an unacceptable, unfortunate, and dangerous development. … The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically,” Rubio said, emphasizing the importance of allied consultation before attributing deliberate escalation to Moscow.
A Delicate Balance
Moscow’s declaration that NATO is already at war with Russia represents a political broadside rather than a recognized fact, yet it underscores the danger of narrative escalation in parallel with real-world military incidents. For Poland and its NATO partners, the challenge is to manage provocations without triggering miscalculation, while keeping open the prospect of dialogue that Moscow so far presents as insincere.
The “Eastern Sentry” deployment illustrates NATO’s preference for deterrence and defense without conceding Moscow’s framing. Whether the drone incursions were accidents, probing maneuvers, or signals of intent, they have raised the stakes along one of Europe’s most sensitive borders.
Timeline: Drone Incursions Into Poland and NATO’s Response
Early September 2025
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Several drones cross into Polish airspace from the east.
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Polish authorities accuse Moscow of deliberate violations, raising alarm within NATO.
Mid-September 2025
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Russia’s Defense Ministry downplays the incidents, suggesting no hostile intent.
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Belarus claims the drones may have veered off course due to jamming of their electronic navigation systems.
September 14, 2025
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Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov states on Telegram that the Defense Ministry offered consultations with Poland, accusing Warsaw of refusing dialogue.
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Ulyanov characterizes Poland’s claims as either a “provocation or a misunderstanding.”
September 15, 2025
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declares, “NATO is at war with Russia,” intensifying Moscow’s narrative that Western support for Ukraine amounts to direct conflict.
September 16, 2025
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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announces the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry to bolster forces along Russia’s border.
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Rutte condemns the incursions as “reckless and unacceptable,” whether deliberate or not.
September 17, 2025
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the drones were “intentionally launched,” but declines to confirm they were meant to strike or enter Polish territory.
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Rubio emphasizes the need for further consultation among allies before attributing deliberate escalation to Moscow.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.