Security expert Nico Lange has described the recent incident of Russian drones entering Polish airspace as a deliberate provocation by Vladimir Putin. In an interview with “Der Spiegel”, Lange stated that Putin’s objective is to assess the responsiveness of air defense systems, identify vulnerabilities and influence the political discourse through disinformation. He characterized the situation as an ongoing, large-scale test initiated on Wednesday.
Lange sharply criticized the political response from the West, noting that despite eleven years of Russian aggression against Ukraine, discussions persist regarding whether such incidents are accidental. He argued that Putin strategically exploits these doubts. “We are unfortunately still failing this test” he stated.
Despite the functionality of NATO’s air defenses, the incident reveals significant weaknesses, particularly in drone defense capabilities. Lange expressed alarm at the fact that drones were able to traverse Poland for 300 kilometers before falling. He, who previously advised former German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and currently works for the Munich Security Conference, emphasized that this is not solely a Polish issue, but concerns all of Europe.
Lange advocated for a decisive and consistent response, emphasizing the need to deny Russia the ability to conduct such attacks. This, he suggested, should include targeting Russian airfields, drone factories and logistical facilities. Simultaneously, he called for strategic reinforcement of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Furthermore, Lange criticized the perceived reluctance of the current German coalition government. He expressed the impression that there is a substantial continuity in Russia and Ukraine policy relative to the previous administration, a dynamic he deemed unfavorable. He warned that blocking these necessary changes would be detrimental, potentially due to elements within the Social Democratic Party maintaining an outdated view of Russia and relying on unrealistic expectations.