WARSAW, Poland: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on September 14 that Russian drone strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border would lead the military alliance to increase its support for Kyiv.

He described the attacks as a sign that Russian forces were becoming increasingly desperate.

"The strikes yesterday on trains in Ukraine close to NATO territory again show Putin's desperation and also his desire to sow fear and terror," Rutte said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Rutte said NATO would increase its support for Ukraine and strengthen the defenses of its 32 member countries along the alliance's eastern border with Russia. He also said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not succeed in weakening NATO's unity or stopping its support for Ukraine.

Rutte's comments came after Poland announced stronger security measures along its border with Ukraine. The move followed a series of Russian drone attacks near the frontier, including two drones that came down only a few kilometers from Polish territory.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on September 13 that Russia appeared ready to increase attacks connected to Ukraine's borders with European countries. Ukraine is already facing an intense Russian air campaign involving ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones designed to break through its air defenses.

Tusk said the coming weeks and months could bring a major increase in Russian activity. He also warned that the escalation could affect Polish territory. He had issued a similar warning on September 10.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on X that the Polish army had recovered what appeared to be a Russian military drone from the Baltic Sea near the coastal village of Jaroslawiec.

Polish officials said intelligence assessments, including information from a CIA briefing the previous week, indicated that Russia could target border areas and increase sabotage operations in European countries. The reported aim would be to discourage Western countries from continuing their support for Ukraine.

Tusk said Poland would discuss preparations for a possible joint response with its NATO allies.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski highlighted NATO's military strength. He said European NATO air forces, even without U.S. involvement, would be capable of destroying half of Russia's oil refineries more quickly than Ukraine could.

Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk described the latest drone attacks as a serious escalation by Russia. He said any conflict spilling into European countries could involve sabotage, a major increase in hybrid warfare or other hostile actions along NATO's borders.

The developments have increased concerns among NATO members that Russia's war against Ukraine could increasingly affect neighboring European countries. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and lies on NATO's eastern flank, has been particularly alert to the risk of Russian attacks or other hostile activity crossing into its territory.