Fears are mounting of an escalation between NATO members and Russia as Vladimir Putin tempts WW3 by creating a string of potential flashpoints outside Ukraine.
Moscow has become increasingly confident and brazen as Donald Trump's attention pivots from Europe to the Western Hemisphere. With Washington DC preoccupied with ratcheting up its military presence off the coast of Venezuela, Putin has poked at the edges of the NATO alliance.
Drone strikes on a tanker supplying Kyiv on the Danube - a river serving as the border between Ukraine and Romania - forced the evacuation of nearby villages with Russia also being blamed for sabotaging railway tracks in neighbouring Poland. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of "escalation" by Russian intelligence and concerns Moscow is attempting to spread "chaos" and "panic."
Attacks this week are nothing new for Kremlin dictator Putin, who has carefully prodded at the edges of NATO for any weak spots where he can force a split the leadership of the defensive alliance. Any moves in NATO member states bordering Russia and warzones is being carefully watched amid concern of an overreaction to Russian-sponsored incidents as well as failing to meet the moment should Moscow declare war on another country.
Shockwaves were sent through NATO member Romania overnight after a mass Russian missile and drone bombardment on Ukraine crept up to its border with the south-eastern European country. Villages along Romania's side of the Danube were evacuated amid fears the tanker carrying supplies for Ukraine could explode.
The MT Ordina was struck as it offloaded liquified petroleum gas on the border while dozens of people were onboard the vessel. Two villages were evacuated by Romanian officials as firefighters battled to put out the blaze.
NATO nation Poland also contended with an incident after discovering railway tracks in the country had been sabotaged as Russia launched attacks on Ukraine. The actions of suspected Russian agents led to a stark warning from Prime Minister Tusk.
He said: "These acts of sabotage and the actions of Russian services across the whole of Europe, not only in Poland, are unfortunately gaining momentum. We are dealing with an escalation."
Russia today clapped back with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling state media: "Russia is accused of all manifestations of the hybrid and direct war that is taking place. In Poland, let’s say, everyone is trying to run ahead of the European locomotive in this regard. And Russophobia, of course, is flourishing there."
The countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have long been considered likely targets for Russian expansionists, despite the trio all being NATO members. In September, Russian fighter jets repeatedly entered Baltic airspace.