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In response to a surge in drone sightings near critical Belgian airports, the United Kingdom has pledged to send military personnel and specialized equipment to assist Belgium. The decision was announced by Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, head of the UK armed forces, following a formal request from Belgian authorities. Recent drone incursions have forced temporary closures at Brussels’ main international airport and Liege, one of Europe’s largest cargo hubs. Additionally, unidentified drones have been spotted near a military base housing US nuclear weapons, raising concerns over national security. Knighton emphasized that while the source of the drones remains unknown, the UK is committed to providing its expertise and resources to address the issue. The deployment of UK assets has already commenced. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken speculated that some incidents may be part of a sophisticated espionage operation, ruling out amateur involvement. Belgium, home to NATO and EU headquarters, as well as a major financial clearinghouse holding billions in frozen Russian assets, has become a focal point of geopolitical tensions. While many EU nations advocate using these assets to support Ukraine, Belgium has resisted such measures. The drone incidents have underscored the growing security challenges facing Europe, with Russia often implicated in similar occurrences across the continent.

The United Kingdom is dispatching military personnel and equipment to Belgium to assist in strengthening its defenses following a series of drone incursions into Belgian airspace, suspected to be orchestrated by Russia. Sir Richard Knighton, the newly appointed head of the UK military, revealed in an interview with BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Belgium had requested assistance earlier this week. The UK has responded by deploying resources to aid its NATO ally. The incursions, which occurred on Thursday night, forced the temporary closure of Brussels’ Zavantem Airport and were also reported near a military base. While the origin of the drones remains unconfirmed, Sir Richard acknowledged that it is ‘plausible’ they were directed by Moscow. The decision to support Belgium was made in collaboration with UK Defence Secretary John Healey. Germany has also pledged to provide anti-drone measures following a request from Brussels. The disruptions have impacted approximately 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers, with the carrier incurring significant costs due to flight cancellations and diversions. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken emphasized that the drone incursions, initially perceived as a localized issue, have now escalated into a broader threat affecting civilian infrastructure across Europe. Sir Richard further highlighted Russia as the ‘most pressing threat’ to Europe, citing its ‘barbaric’ actions in Ukraine and its involvement in sabotage and killings on UK soil. Recent months have seen a surge in drone sightings across Europe, including in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, with some officials attributing these incidents to Russian ‘hybrid warfare.’ The Kremlin has denied any involvement. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that the incursions could be linked to EU discussions about using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Despite the lack of public evidence, suspicions have been fueled by Russia’s increased airspace violations in Eastern Europe, involving fighter jets and larger attack drones. In response, the UK has deployed RAF Typhoon jets to participate in NATO defense missions over Poland, reinforcing the alliance’s eastern flank.

In a series of escalating attacks, Ukrainian strikes have disrupted power and heating systems in two major Russian cities near the Ukrainian border, according to local officials. The incidents occurred over the weekend, with drone and missile strikes targeting infrastructure in Voronezh and Belgorod. Voronezh, a city with a population of over 1 million, experienced temporary blackouts and heating cuts after a drone strike caused a fire at a local utility facility. Meanwhile, Belgorod, home to around 340,000 people, suffered significant damage to its power and heating systems, affecting approximately 20,000 households. These strikes are part of a broader pattern of reciprocal attacks on energy infrastructure between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict have failed to make progress. Russia’s defense ministry reported intercepting 44 Ukrainian drones in southwestern regions but did not mention the affected cities. The ongoing conflict continues to strain both nations, with Ukraine targeting Russian oil refineries to cut off Moscow’s war funding, while Russia aims to cripple Ukraine’s power grid, a strategy Kyiv officials describe as an attempt to ‘weaponize winter.’