The German cabinet decided to authorize the military to shoot down suspicious drones near military sites or other critical infrastructure.

Interior Minister Nancy Feather said in a statement, “Especially since (Russian President Vladimir) Putin launched his war of aggression in Ukraine, we have seen the use of drones become more frequent, which has a great impact on police and military personnel. Its existing technologies pose a growing challenge.”

Russia is suspected of waging a “shadow war” against Western countries that support Ukraine, a charge it denies.

These include alleged attempts to blow up international flights, attack infrastructure or interfere with democratic elections.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday: “I can only confirm that Russia plans to carry out aerial terror operations not only against Poland but also against airlines around the world.”

He gave no details, but his statement appeared to confirm a New York Times report that U.S. President Joe Biden had warned Putin about the alleged plan.

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of parcel fires targeted European express companies is an exercise by groups aimed at disrupting flights to the United States and Canada.

Tusk hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw, a day after NATO announced a new mission to step up surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after key undersea cables were damaged or severed last year.

Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Recently, there have been many incidents of unidentified drones flying over military bases.

German police said at least 10 such drones were flying over Manchen Air Base near the city of Ingolstadt on Sunday night.

Sightings were reported last month in Manching and nearby Neuburg an der Danube.

Drones have also been spotted at Ramstein Air Force Base in the United States and its nearby North Sea industrial area.

“Espionage or sabotage are often considered possible causes,” Interior Minister Feather said in a statement.

Under current regulations, the German Army can only help police force drones to leave or land, and can also fire warning shots to achieve this goal.

Under the new proposals, which still need parliamentary approval, soldiers could shoot down drones if they believe that is the only way to deal with them “posing a threat to people’s lives or critical facilities.”

In November, Polish prosecutors said a series of package arson attacks targeting express delivery companies in Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom was a rehearsal for disrupting flights to the United States and Canada.

Western security officials believe it was part of an operation orchestrated by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.

Russia denies being behind the sabotage.

But it is suspected of being behind other attacks this year on warehouses and rail networks in EU member states, including Sweden and the Czech Republic.