Russian drones deliberately struck a Polish-owned factory in Ukraine that made flooring for homes. The attack was doubtlessly intended as a warning threat to Poland and other countries investing in Ukraine.
But Putin has generally overestimated the value of his terror campaigns - perhaps because intimidation has always worked so well on the Russian people. He probably thought that the recent election of a conservative Polish president meant that Poles were tired of supporting Ukraine and that this attack would further drive public opinion away, as this is not their war. But the conservative was elected by a miniscule margin - among the closest in Polish history - and Poles have never indicated any desire to live under Russian dictatorship again. In fact, just the opposite. They also happen to possess the second largest and arguably best equipped army in Europe. Nothing unites a people like the perception that they are under attack. Just as he has consistently miscalculated Ukrainian opposition to Russia, so he appears to be adding Poland to the list of his immutable enemies. JL
Russia intentionally struck a Polish-owned factory in Ukraine. Moscow launched drones at a flooring factory in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia. Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski said the strikes came from "three directions." Eight people were hospitalized after Russian drone strikes on two civilian industrial facilities and four residential buildings in Vinnytsia. The uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) caused "large-scale fires, significant damage and production cannot be resumed for six months. "The targeting of the factory was called "another barbaric attack" by Russia on civilians. The Polish diplomat added: "Putin's criminal war is getting closer to our borders."