Russian hawks urge Putin to escalate war, drop US talks after Ukraine drone strikes

Western intelligence agencies are increasingly concerned that Russia may be preparing a limited hybrid operation targeting NATO's eastern flank, potentially involving the Baltic states or Poland.

A senior political source from a second Nato member made a similar statement last week.

It comes as Moscow has been left humiliated by Ukraine’s devastating campaign against Russian oil infrastructure.

Nationalist voices have long pressed for full mobilisation, the destruction of Kyiv’s government quarter, the assassination of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and strikes on European drone factories.