Russia’s sabotage and drone incidents are ‘failing to undermine’ Nato support for Ukraine, Rutte says – Europe live

Meanwhile, the Kremlin rejected what it called Estonia’s “baseless” accusation that Russia ordered an arson attack on an Estonian defence company in August (۱۰:۱۰).

“Such statements are baseless, ill-considered, have absolutely no relation to reality, and lack any form of reasoning. Consequently, we cannot and will not take such statements seriously,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to an AFP question.

How could anyone ever think that Russia could do this, right? Right?

Rutte’s comments there are (perhaps not surprisingly) very much aligned with what Nato’s top commander Alexus Grynkewich told EU lawmakers last night.

In a rare appearance at the European parliament, Grynkewich warned that “the goal of the Russian activity right now is primarily to break our will to continue supporting Ukraine.”

As reported yesterday, he said:

“The logic of this is if we make the security situation seem dire enough, populations will want nations to withhold from Ukraine for their own protection. …

If there is a hybrid attack on your country, reinforcing the will to support Ukraine will show the Russians that their strategy isn’t working, and maybe have them back off that strategy.”

Top Nato figures appear to be focused on very publicly calling Russia’s tactics out in a bid to stop Moscow from succeeding and having any impact on social attitudes towards helping Ukraine – particularly ahead of ۲۰۲۷, with big elections coming up in France, Italy, Poland and Spain.

• Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has urged allies to keep calm and carry on supporting Ukraine, saying Russia is “failing to undermine” the alliance’s support for Kyiv despite growing number of sabotage, drone incidents against Nato (۱۱:۰۷).

• Rutte warned that Russia “continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against Nato allies,” trying to “weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine” (۱۰:۵۷).

• His comments came at a press conference with Lithuania’s prime minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius who warned that Russia’s actions are “becoming increasingly hostile and less restrained” (۱۰:۵۹).

• But Sinkevičius pushed back against recent warnings from Denmark, Poland and Germany about a potential imminent threat, saying there is no evidence of Russia “getting ready” (۱۱:۱۰).

Pushed a bit further on hybrid attacks, Rutte acknowledges they “are having an impact,” but repeats his point that Nato has “all the response options: sometimes visible, sometimes not.”

He also says it’s important to, whenever possible on the basis of available evidence, publicly attribute these incidents to Russia, as Estonia did today.

“I applaud it,” he says.

He says Nato is acting “in the spirit of staying calm, carrying on.”

“We are stronger and they know it.”

And that concludes the press conference.

Lithuania’s Sinkevičius says Russia “seeks to spread fear, to bring division … but it will not succeed.”

“We are not shaking [with fear]; we are doing what is meant to be done,” he says.

He says countries also do a lot of work in the background that is not publicly seen.

He says it’s important to be open about the challenges posed by Russia, but pushes back against “exaggerations” that something could happen within “upcoming months of weeks.”

“Is there any proof, real proof, that our intelligence services are providing … that Russia is getting ready or something? There is actually none,” he says, stressing “the risk remains,” but it’s not deemed to be escalating at the moment.

He adds “we have to … calmly do our work and we are doing that.”

Rutte gets asked about various recent sabotage actions against Nato allies, including the UK, Germany, and Lithuania.

Should we stop calling them hybrid threats and call them what they are, he is asked. And does he agree with warnings coming from several countries about “decisive weeks and months” ahead?

Rutte says he agrees with the criticism of the phrase “hybrid threat,” as “it sounds a bit cuddly,” and does not reflect the severity of the threat.

But he says the key thing is that Nato “has all the response options we need,” even if “you will not always see them publicly.”

He says allies do a lot to counter the Russian threat.

“I would urge some calm, because we are investing in our defence [and] Russia is not in a good place,” he says.

He adds allies should “carry on, keep the support for Ukraine going, because the best response to any action in this grey zone of what Russia is doing is more support for Ukraine.”

Rutte says “we should not be naive about Russia,” but adds “they know we are stronger and we have to make sure by carrying on with our investments that we are also stronger in two, three, five years from now.”

Sinkevičius is up next, as he thanks Rutte for today’s talks.

He warns that “the security [situation] in Europe is challenging,” as Russia’s actions are becoming increasingly hostile and less restrained.”

“We see the hybrid attacks: in Lithuania, Poland, Germany, elsewhere. And it’s not a question of proximity now; it’s a question of Russia’s actions.”

He says Lithuania leads the way in Nato as one of the top defence spenders, above ۵% of GDP, and invites Rutte to a formal ceremony marking the permanent deployment of a German brigade to Lithuania in ۲۰۲۷.

Rutte continues saying that “Russia continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against Nato allies.”

He says:

“[Russia] is trying to weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine. But Russia is failing. It is failing on a battlefield in Ukraine, and it is failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine.

Our message to Moscow is clear: we will do even more for Ukraine and not less.”

Rutte begins by recalling a drone shot down in Lithuanian airspace by Nato fighter jets two weeks ago.

He says “the repeated drone incidents along our eastern flank showed the evolving nature of the threat, and we are strengthening our integrated air and missile defence.”

“We are adapting and reinforcing our posture against drones.”

Rutte and Sinkevičius are now speaking.

Jakub Krupa

It will be interesting to see if Nato’s Mark Rutte or Lithuania’s Mindaugas Sinkevičius choose to comment on the latest from Ukraine and Estonia.

They should be up for their press conference soon.

I am keeping an eye on this for you.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine with more details on what was struck (۹:۴۹), including two foreign vessels in Odesa region.

“Work to address the aftermath of Russian strikes in our cities and communities is continuing virtually nonstop. They are simply terrorists targeting life, our people, and purely civilian sites – day and night.

In Kyiv, the depot at Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station, data centres, business centres, and residential buildings were damaged. In the Odesa region, the strikes hit an educational institution, a dormitory, and two foreign vessels. The Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, Volyn, and Rivne regions also came under Russian attack last night. Energy facilities, substations, civilian businesses, and residential buildings were damaged.

There were successful interceptions last night, including of ballistic missiles. Thank you to everyone involved in our defence and to everyone who honours our agreements. I am grateful to our American and Norwegian partners for the NASAMS system and the package of missiles for it. I am grateful to France and Germany for the air defense support package provided in recent days, specifically the missiles. Against the backdrop of Russia’s daily escalation, it is important that the protection of life receive continuous support and that such packages continue to arrive. Thank you to everyone who is helping.”

Lithuania’s foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys also offered Lithuania’s solidarity with Estonia, saying “Russia’s fingerprints are all over,” and warning that “Russia’s hostile activities do not stop at Ukraine’s border.”

“Russia’s fingerprints are all over: the Estonian authorities have confirmed that the ۱۵ August arson attack against the Estonian defence company Milrem Robotics in Tallinn was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian security services. The perpetrators were identified and detained. The political responsibility leads to Moscow.

Russia’s hostile activities do not stop at Ukraine’s borders. They target our security, our resilience, and our resolve.

Lithuania stands in full solidarity with Estonia. Our response must be united: raise the costs for Russia, strengthen our resilience, and reinforce support for Ukraine. Intimidation will not work. Resolve will.”

Estonia’s national security agency Kaitsepolitseiamet offered a bit more detail on the arson attack and what led to the attribution, saying that they assess it “was a deliberate and pre-planned act commissioned by Russian security services.”

It said:

“Based on the information available to KAPO, the modus operandi of the Milrem attack is consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia. KAPO assesses that the attack is directly attributable to the Russian Federation.

Defence industry companies, particularly those involved in drone technology, as well as organisations supporting Ukraine, have been among the targets of Russian security services since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

KAPO’s assessment is based on the analysis of intelligence information and cooperation with domestic and international partners.

Since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, KAPO and its partners have identified and apprehended more than ۲۰ individuals involved in kinetic attacks carried out on behalf of Russian security services.

Russia continues to seek opportunities to conduct acts of sabotage and other hostile activities across Europe. Individuals recruited for such operations may be misled or manipulated and may be given false or fabricated justifications for their actions in an effort to conceal the involvement of the Russian state.

KAPO assesses that these activities are intended to undermine support for Ukraine among European allies and to support Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine.

The Milrem attack demonstrates the continued need for industries, particularly those operating in the defence and security sectors, to maintain robust physical and cyber security measures and to remain alert to attempts to recruit individuals to carry out acts of sabotage.

KAPO assesses that the threat posed by Russian efforts to destabilise Estonian society and undermine support for Ukraine will remain high in the coming years. Estonia remains a safe and secure country, and we are committed to doing everything necessary to keep it that way.”

Sweden’s caretaker prime minister Ulf Kristersson said that “Estonia’s attribution of an arson attack orchestrated by Russia against a defence company is extremely serious.”

He said:

“Sweden stands fully behind Estonia and I am in close touch with PM Kristen Michal.

This pattern of attacks is directed against Europe as a whole. The aim is to weaken our support for Ukraine and to intimidate us.

It will not work. Together, we will increase support for Ukraine and take further measures against Russia, while continuing to strengthen our preparedness and resilience.”

Meanwhile, Estonia has formally attributed responsibility for an August arson attack on a defence contractor in Tallinn to Russia.

Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said that “based on the information collected by the Estonian Internal Security Service,” the attack on Milrem Robotics was “an act of sabotage ordered by the special services of the Russian Federation.”

“Such actions are absolutely irresponsible,” he said, as Estonia summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires over the incident.

Tsahkna continued:

“The perpetrators have been apprehended and no longer pose a threat to our national security. Estonia is a difficult environment for Russia to carry out such actions because we act decisively and swiftly to protect our state.

This act of sabotage is part of Russia’s broader campaign across Europe, aimed at intimidating us and weakening our support for Ukraine.

Our response will be the opposite. We will increase both our support for Ukraine and the pressure on Russia to end its aggression.

Let’s not lose focus and stay the course, because Russia’s actions are a clear indication that our collective exertion of pressure is working.”

Keeping with the energy theme, the International Energy Agency’s executive director Fatih Birol warned that Europe is one of the most exposed regions regarding the diesel market, Reuters reported.

“If there is a need for more strategic reserve releases, we will discuss with our member governments,” he said.

Earlier today, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said that demand for ⁠air ​travel ‌remained ‌very ‌strong because airlines had kept fares ‌low, but warned ​that this ⁠could not continue ​next year with oil ​prices ​at ​current ‌levels, pushing air fares to go “dramatically higher.”

Morning opening: Russia hits port facilities in Odesa

Jakub Krupa

Russia hit damaged port infrastructure facilities and other sites in Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Odesa, a regional governor said.

At least eight people were injured.

“Operations to address the aftermath are under way at the scene. All those injured are receiving the necessary medical assistance,” regional governor Oleh Kiper ​said ​on ​Telegram.

I will keep an eye on the latest from Ukraine throughout the day.

Separately, Lithuanian PM Mindaugas Sinkevičius is meeting Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte this morning for talks and a joint press conference amid growing Russian pressure on the eastern flank of the alliance. Expect to hear a clear message of defiance and unity.

Elsewhere, EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen is in Dublin, chairing talks on the bloc’s energy supplies ahead of the winter. A press conference is expected in the late afternoon.

I will bring you all the latest from across the continent here.

It’s Tuesday, ۲۹ September ۲۰۲۶, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.