Russia tells Europe to brace for more strikes after hitting Romania

The deployment of low-altitude, low-cost loitering munitions along the periphery of the conflict zone is driving a profound operational reconfiguration of NATO’s southeastern flank. By routing strike vectors in extreme geographic proximity to Allied borders, Russia exploits the tactical limitations of conventional air defense networks optimized for high-altitude, long-range engagements. Minimal warning windows and peacetime legal constraints create persistent vulnerabilities in intercepting low-flying, asymmetric threats before they penetrate sovereign civilian airspace. Consequently, this calculated friction forces border states to transition from a reactive posture toward comprehensive, continuous readiness and localized forward-deployed systems. Ultimately, this development alters the strategic balance by shifting the economic burden of defense onto NATO, testing collective resilience while accelerating the integration of regional logistical and military infrastructure.