Why 🐺 Russia-NATO-Tracker picked: Tuesday briefing: Europe thinks Russia is preparing to test Nato’s limits

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In today’s newsletter: Intelligence chiefs warn that Russia’s appetite for risk is growing, as sabotage and other covert attacks target countries supporting UkraineGood morning. As the UN general assembly kicks off in New York later today, we anticipate a heavy focus on the ongoing conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and the Gulf – as well as the inevitable body language analysis of Andy Burnham’s first in-person meeting with Donald Trump.But another related conflict is likely to dominate informal discussions: the intensifying acts of sabotage on European states that are believed to trace back to Russia but deliberately fall below the threshold for military response – a so-called hybrid or “shadow war” with the singular purpose of disrupting support for Ukraine.Yemen | The UK has agreed to<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/21/uk-to-give-support-to-saudi-jets-in-attempt-to-counter-houthi-fighters" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank"> provide defensive air support</a> to Saudi Arabia to help counter Houthi fighters and restore stability in the Middle East while driving down the cost of living at home, Andy Burnham has said, ahead of his first meeting with Donald Trump.Environment | The “jaw-dropping” El Niño currently heating up the planet has burst through the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/21/super-el-nino-temperature-record" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">highest temperature ever recorded</a> for the phenomenon, several months before its expected peak.Gaza | Israeli and UK military commanders could be requested to give evidence to an inquest concerning three British <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/inquest-british-aid-workers-killed-gaza-call-on-israeli-uk-military-chiefs" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">aid workers killed</a> in Gaza when aid vehicles they were travelling in were hit by an airstrike.US | After President Trump’s snap decision to ban CNN from the White House, the four other networks that comprise the White House’s TV pool decided they would <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/sep/21/donald-trump-arch-media-white-house-press-ban-mamdani-ai-unga-latest-news-updates" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">cease their pooled coverage</a> of the president.Slavery | Bones of the enslaver Edward Colston are likely to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/21/edward-colston-remains-likely-stay-bristol-church-community-space" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">remain interred</a> in a church in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/bristol" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">Bristol</a> if and when the currently unused building is given a new lease of life as a community resource, it has emerged. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/22/tuesday-briefing-europe-thinks-russia-is-preparing-to-test-natos-limits" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer ugc" target="_blank">Continue reading...</a>

Why 🐺 Russia-NATO-Tracker picked: Tuesday briefing: Europe thinks Russia is preparing to test Nato’s limits

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Zelensky Is Expected to Warn Russia’s Aggression Won’t Stop at Ukraine’s Borders

The Russian operations have three main goals, according to analysts and security officials. The key challenge facing Europe is how to respond bit.ly/4hdKCN6 Photo: Alamy

Russia has been staging covert operations and deniable provocations against European countries for many years. In recent months the pace of such shadowy attacks appears to have risen again

Sources close to the Kremlin say that, after several weeks of consideration over the summer, Russia’s president seems to have chosen to escalate his conflict. What might that entail?

European spy chiefs warn Moscow is planning more decisive action against Nato

Vladimir Putin believes Russia is at war with Europe. His armies are already well-practised in asymmetric drone warfare, and they are learning all the time. Europe, by contrast, is unprepared

Sources close to the Kremlin say that, after several weeks of consideration over the summer, Russia’s president seems to have chosen to escalate his conflict. What might that entail?

Kemi Badenoch accuses Andy Burnham of ‘fiddling while Europe risks burning’