Russia threatens all out war with NATO as nuclear bombers deployed in chilling warning

A key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has branded calls for a NATO-imposed no-fly zone over Ukraine as “idiotic,” warning that such a move could trigger a direct war between Moscow and the West.

The sharp remarks came from Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and close confidant of Putin, after Poland urged NATO to consider shooting down Russian drones and missiles over Ukrainian territory. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski argued that taking such action would “benefit” Western security, noting that several Russian UAVs had already violated Polish and Romanian airspace in recent days.

At least three of around two dozen Russian drones that crossed into NATO territory last week were downed by Polish forces, while another UAV flew over Romania for nearly an hour. These incidents have increased pressure within NATO to act more decisively. Sikorski stressed that Warsaw cannot take such measures independently, saying any decision must be made jointly with NATO and EU allies.

Moscow, however, views the proposal as highly provocative. Medvedev warned that implementing such a plan would mean only “one thing war between NATO and Russia.” The Kremlin insists that any attempt to shoot down Russian drones over Ukraine would be seen as direct involvement in the conflict.

The tension escalated further as Russia deployed its nuclear-capable Tu-22M3 bombers for a four-hour patrol over the Barents Sea, coinciding with its large-scale “Zapad 2025” military drills alongside Belarus. Russia’s defense ministry maintained that all flights adhered to international airspace regulations.

Despite Moscow’s warnings, Kyiv continues to gain tactical victories. Ukraine recently destroyed a £37 million Russian Buk air defense system in occupied Zaporizhzhia, a strike captured on video by its intelligence services. At the same time, Ukrainian regions such as Dnipropetrovsk came under fresh Russian attacks overnight.

The debate over a no-fly zone reflects growing divisions between NATO’s caution and Eastern European nations’ calls for stronger deterrence against Russia. With pressure mounting, the question remains whether Western allies will escalate their involvement or continue to stop short of direct confrontation.