Moscow calls summoning of its ambassadors in Europe over drone incident in Poland ‘demonization campaign’

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday called the summoning of Russian ambassadors in European countries over a drone incident in Poland “another link in a large-scale information campaign aimed at demonizing Russia.”

In a statement, Zakharova said the haste with which Russia was declared responsible, combined with Poland’s refusal to accept consultations proposed by the Russian Defense Ministry, showed the “collective West’s” disinterest in establishing the facts.

The statement followed Polish claims that Russian drones violated the country’s airspace earlier this month. Poland’s foreign minister later said the alleged incursion was the Kremlin’s attempt to test NATO’s reaction.

"The circumstances of the incident are not yet clear, the necessary investigation has not been conducted, convincing evidence has not been collected, and the culprit has already been appointed. And this is, of course, the Russian Federation," Zakharova said.

The explanations presented by the Russian Ministry of Defense are being ignored, she added.

"This is another link in a large-scale information campaign aimed at demonizing Russia and mobilizing additional support for the Kyiv regime, as well as an attempt to disrupt the political settlement of the conflict over Ukraine," she said.

The spokeswoman also criticized what she called a biased attitude toward Russia, saying Europeans accuse Moscow of drone attacks while ignoring Ukraine’s actions. She claimed that 16 people have been killed and 116 injured in Russia by drones since the summer, including children.