Increased tensions in Eastern Europe follow a series of provocative Russian actions. Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO to strengthen its eastern defenses. Simultaneously, Russia and Belarus conducted large-scale military exercises, "Zapad 2025," showcasing conventional and nuclear capabilities, including the Oreshnik missile. This follows Russia's revised nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons use. The maneuvers and drone incident, occurring after a failed US-Russia summit, heighten fears of escalation, particularly given Russia's plans to deploy Oreshnik missiles in Belarus, effectively turning the country into a potential nuclear launchpad for Europe.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.