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NATO Drafts Strategy to Defend Against Russian Attack

12:02 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: NATO’s top military commander is preparing a strategy to quickly defeat any Russian attack on the alliance’s eastern flank, using drones and artificial intelligence alongside conventional forces.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich, is set to present the 'Theory of Victory' strategy in Poland on Oct. 12. The plan aims to clarify how NATO would respond to a potential incursion into its territory and reassure the public of the alliance's readiness.

While allied officials have stated that a conventional Russian attack against NATO is not imminent, they have warned that Moscow might attempt to test the alliance's eastern flank through hybrid attacks or drone incursions.

The strategy, called 'Theory of Victory,' will be unveiled in Poland, focusing on integrating emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence with NATO’s existing conventional military capabilities.

According to NATO officials, the plan is designed to accelerate decision-making on the battlefield and strengthen NATO’s ability to stop an attack before Russia can achieve its initial objectives.

The Baltic Sea region is often cited as the most likely flashpoint in a Russia-NATO confrontation, but local governments have said they do not see signs of Moscow planning a conventional attack in the near future.

The strategy reflects NATO’s broader effort to absorb lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine, where drones, automated targeting, electronic warfare, and rapidly changing battlefield technologies have become central to combat operations.

NATO has increasingly focused on integrating such capabilities into its eastern defenses while retaining conventional forces as the foundation of deterrence.

The strategy also aims to avoid any provocations on NATO's part while working to counter Russian hybrid attacks.

Russia is conducting a 'shadow war,' according to Germany's foreign intelligence service head, Martin Jaeger. This includes repeated drone incursions into NATO member airspace.

Former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll noted that Ukraine's better weapons of war despite a smaller budget relative to NATO members was a wake-up call.

The strategy comes amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia, with Moscow repeatedly issuing threats to NATO members and countries backing Kyiv.

NATO has not publicly commented on the contents of the plan, but a NATO official confirmed its existence to the Kyiv Independent.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich, is set to present the strategy, called Theory of Victory, in Poland on Oct. 12.
• Grynkewich's plan is intended to clarify how NATO would respond to a potential incursion into its territory and reassure the public of the alliance's readiness.
• NATO’s top military commander is preparing a strategy to quickly defeat any Russian attack on the alliance’s eastern flank, using drones and artificial intelligence alongside conventional forces.
• The outlet noted that officials have been assessing repeated reports suggesting Russia could consider military action against NATO territory.
• He is expected to present the strategy in Poland on October 12.
• It places particular emphasis on integrating emerging technologies, including drones and AI, with NATO’s existing conventional military capabilities.
• Rather than replacing traditional forces, the strategy seeks to integrate technological systems with established military power to accelerate decision-making on the battlefield and strengthen NATO’s ability to stop an attack before Russia can achieve its initial objectives.
• The document comes amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia and growing concern among allied governments about Moscow’s intentions toward the alliance’s eastern members.
• The strategy also reflects NATO’s broader effort to absorb lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine, where drones, automated targeting, electronic warfare, and rapidly changing battlefield technologies have become central to combat operations.
• The alliance has increasingly focused on integrating such capabilities into its eastern defenses while retaining conventional forces as the foundation of deterrence.
• NATO's shift toward automated warfare has already begun taking shape along the alliance's eastern flank.

What's still developing

• Help rescue animals from the front line — shop our Companion Collection 🐾 NATO is preparing a plan to defend against a possible Russian attack on its eastern flank while integrating drones and AI into its defenses, Bloomberg reported on Oct.
• “Peace is more important than any kind of economy,” Zelenskyy said.
• "We should never forget the country is fighting for its survival," the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told journalists when asked to comment on the pace of Ukraine's reforms.
• Moldova has "taken major strides towards membership," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said at the end of the 10th EU-Moldova Association Council meeting in Brussels.
• Evidently, during September 2026, Russia sent multiple drones into the airspace of other countries, including NATO members, sometimes crashing, and President Zelenskyy said Russian drones attacked Moldova twice while he was in transit.

Sources

• Kyivindependentlink
• United24Medialink
• United24Medialink
• Kyivpostlink
• Oilpricelink
• Dagenslink
• Cerlink
• Englishlink
• WarpBeat — background on NATO Drafts Strategy to Defend Against Russian Attack link
• WarpBeat — background on Drones invade Moldovan airspace 3 times in 1 day as Russia wages relentless attack against Ukraine link
• NBC News — video link