Warsaw, December 28, 2025 – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sharply criticized Russia on Saturday for a devastating missile and drone barrage on Kyiv that killed at least two civilians and injured dozens, describing the attack as a direct rebuff to ongoing diplomatic efforts involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a post on the social media platform X, Tusk wrote: “Contrary to President Trump’s expectations and despite Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s willingness to make concessions, Russia has once again brutally attacked residential areas of Kyiv.” He emphasized that the strikes underscored Moscow's unwillingness to engage constructively in peace talks, adding urgency to regional defense enhancements.
The overnight assault, which began in the early hours of December 27, involved nearly 500 drones and around 40 missiles, according to Ukrainian officials. Kyiv bore the brunt, with hits on energy infrastructure causing widespread power outages and heating disruptions amid freezing temperatures. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted over 500 airborne threats, but debris and direct impacts damaged residential buildings, power plants, and other civilian sites. At least two people were killed—one in Kyiv and one in the surrounding region—with injuries reported in the dozens, including children.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called the barrage evidence that Russia "doesn't want peace," particularly as it coincided with preparations for high-stakes talks in Florida aimed at refining a U.S.-brokered peace proposal. The attack prompted Poland to scramble fighter jets and temporarily close southeastern airports as a precaution.
Tusk's condemnation aligns with broader European concerns over Russian escalation. The incident highlights the persistent threat to Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure nearly four years into the full-scale invasion, with artillery and aerial assaults remaining decisive factors on the battlefield.
In a related development, Poland announced plans to construct a sophisticated anti-drone fortification system along its eastern borders with Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, in direct response to heightened hybrid threats and previous airspace violations.
Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk revealed details of the €2 billion-plus project in an interview with The Guardian, stating that initial capabilities—such as drone-jamming technologies, rapid-fire cannons, machine guns, and surface-to-air missiles—could be operational within six months, with full deployment targeted within two years.
The multi-layered system will integrate with existing defenses built over a decade ago and form part of the larger "Eastern Shield" initiative, a comprehensive fortification program designed to deter potential ground incursions and aerial threats. Special logistics hubs will be established in every border municipality to store rapid-deployment equipment, enabling quick sealing of crossings if needed.
Funding will primarily come from the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense loan program, supplemented by Poland's national budget. The SAFE initiative, which allocates preferential loans for defense investments, has positioned Poland as a major beneficiary, reflecting Warsaw's role as NATO's eastern flank guardian.
Tomczyk emphasized the project's necessity amid Russia's war in Ukraine and hybrid tactics, including drone incursions. Earlier in 2025, multiple Russian drones violated Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine, prompting scrambles of Polish and allied jets, airport closures, and ground damage from downed wreckage. Polish officials have described these as deliberate provocations testing NATO resolve.
"As long as Ukraine is defending itself and fighting Russia, Europe is not at risk of war in the conventional sense," Tomczyk said. "What we will face instead are provocations and acts of sabotage." He cautioned that some heavy weapons, like multi-barrel machine guns, would be reserved for extreme scenarios due to peacetime risks.
The Eastern Shield, launched in 2024, represents Poland's largest border reinforcement since World War II, encompassing physical barriers, electronic surveillance, and military infrastructure. Poland, spending over 4% of GDP on defense—one of NATO's highest rates—views these measures as essential deterrence against spillover risks.
Analysts note that drone warfare has transformed modern conflicts, as evidenced in Ukraine, where low-cost unmanned systems deliver precision strikes and overwhelm defenses. Poland's investment aims to counter this evolving threat, potentially serving as a model for Baltic states facing similar vulnerabilities.
The twin announcements—Tusk's rebuke of the Kyiv attack and the anti-drone shield—illustrate Poland's dual focus: vocal support for Ukraine's sovereignty and proactive hardening of its own defenses. As Zelenskyy engages Trump on peace prospects, Warsaw's actions signal resolve to European allies that deterrence remains paramount amid uncertain diplomacy.
