How corruption and intermediaries devour billions in European aid to Ukraine and the NATO budget

September 2026 brought yet another political scandal in the sphere of European security. Its essence is that as European capitals, under the slogan “we must arm ourselves faster than Russia,” ramp up defence spending, large-scale schemes of abuse, waste and intermediary mark-ups have come to the surface. In early September...

NATO drills Article 5 activation for the first time with all 32 allies

NATO has launched the Steadfast Duel 26 command-post exercise under an Article 5 scenario. Military and civilian representatives from all 32 allies are taking part. The exercise runs from 6 to 15 October 2026. It is NATO’s largest computer-based command-post drill this year: headquarters are practising command and control across...

Russia sends nuclear warning to NATO in informal diplomatic note

Russia has delivered an informal diplomatic document to NATO warning that it is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if alliance countries attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russian territory. The document, seen by Reuters, accuses NATO of a “dangerous and reckless course”...

UK offers to extend its nuclear umbrella to nine JEF countries

The United Kingdom has offered to extend its national nuclear deterrent to nine partner countries in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The corresponding agreement is expected to be signed in November. The countries in question are Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The Finnish newspaper...

NATO steps up intelligence sharing in response to sabotage in Europe

NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, said the alliance is intensifying intelligence sharing in response to a series of sabotage acts and other incidents that allies assess as linked to Russia. At the same time, he urged the alliance to remain “calm and confident” in...

The Kremlin tests NATO response by attacking border checkpoints in Western Ukraine

On the night of 9 September 2026, the silence on the Ukrainian Moldovan border was torn apart by the roar of several Russian Geran-type drones attacking the Starokozache international checkpoint in Odesa region. The raid killed two civilians and wounded three others. Border terminals were destroyed, and a passenger bus,...

Baltic states request €500 million from European Commission for drone defence

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have asked the European Commission to urgently allocate €500 million to strengthen counter-drone systems. The defence ministers of the three countries — Martin Herem (Estonia), Raivis Melnis (Latvia) and Robertas Kaunas (Lithuania) — sent a confidential letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on...

Lithuanian Seimas backs removal of constitutional ban on nuclear weapons

Lithuania’s parliament has approved in the first reading a bill to strike from the Constitution the article that prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, on the country’s territory. The initiative received 99 votes in favour, 13 against and five abstentions. Article 137 of Lithuania’s Constitution,...