NATO fighter jets have been busier than ever lately, scrambling twice in late December to intercept Russian aircraft violating international flight rules. According to European Pravda, Russian planes—specifically the Il-20 and An-26—were spotted behaving like they own the skies, ignoring flight plans and flouting basic aviation norms. This latest series of provocations underscores how brazen Moscow has become, ramping up its antics as its disastrous war in Ukraine drags on.
One incident on December 23 involved a Russian plane flying from Moscow to Kaliningrad Oblast without a proper flight plan. The aircraft did have its radar transponder on—probably because even Russian pilots realize their aging fleet doesn’t exactly scream “stealth.” NATO scrambled jets again on Christmas Day to intercept another Russian plane, this time identifying an Il-76 in addition to the An-26.
These violations aren’t random accidents. They’re deliberate provocations meant to poke NATO in the eye while signaling Moscow’s increasing desperation. Over the last month alone, Russia has violated international airspace at least seven times, forcing NATO allies like Poland, Sweden, and the U.K. to scramble their jets. Poland even launched fighters early on Christmas morning in response to Russian missile attacks on Ukraine—a move that surely didn’t go unnoticed by Santa or the Kremlin.
But let’s be honest: the Democrats, with their endless focus on climate summits and gender pronouns, aren’t equipped to handle this kind of aggression. Instead of leading the charge, they’re fumbling around with policies that weaken America’s presence on the world stage. Thankfully, NATO remains a reliable counterbalance to Moscow’s antics, though it would be nice if the U.S. had a president who understood strength instead of waffling over what constitutes a “strongly worded letter.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to innovate, proving that necessity really is the mother of invention. Ukrainian engineers have developed “human radar” systems using smartphone apps and AI to detect Russian drones and missiles. Even James Hecker, who commands U.S. air forces in Europe, has called Ukraine’s acoustic sensing technology “extraordinary.” Maybe Moscow should take notes—though at this point, they seem more interested in playing chicken with NATO than keeping up with 21st-century defense systems.
The bottom line? Russia’s provocations demand strong leadership. President-elect Donald Trump has already proven he’s not afraid to stand up to Moscow, unlike the current crop of Democrats who seem more concerned with appeasing than deterring. Trump’s return to the White House is exactly what the world needs to ensure Moscow remembers its place. You don’t negotiate with bullies—you show them the door.
