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Germany's cabinet has authorized its army to shoot down suspicious drones near military sites and critical infrastructure. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that increased drone activity, particularly following Russia's war in Ukraine, has become a significant challenge for police forces.
Russia is suspected of launching a "shadow war" against Western countries supporting Ukraine - a charge it denies. This has included alleged attempts to blow up international airliners, attack infrastructure - or interfere with democratic elections.
"I can only confirm that Russia planned acts of air terror, not just against Poland but against airlines across the globe," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday. He did not give any details, but his statement appeared to be confirmation of a New York Times report that US President Joe Biden had warned Putin over the alleged plans.
In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of parcel fires targeting courier companies in Europe were dry runs by groups aiming to sabotage flights to the US and Canada.
Tusk was hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw, a day after Nato announced a new mission to increase the surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after critical undersea cables were damaged or severed last year.
There have been several instances of unidentified drones flying over military bases recently. At least 10 such drones had been seen flying above Manching Air Base near the city of Ingolstadt on Sunday evening, German police said.
Last month, there were sightings at Manching and nearby Neuburg an der Donau. Drones were also spotted at the US air base at Ramstein and at an industrial zone near it in the North Sea.
Under the current rules, the German Army can only help police to force drones to move away or to land - but also to fire warning shots to make this happen.
Under the new proposals - which still need parliamentary approval - soldiers may shoot a drone down if they think that is the only way to deal with the danger it poses "against the lives of people or against a critical facility".
Russia denies being behind acts of sabotage.
