We encourage you to read our review of the past week in Central and Eastern Europe:
Czech Armed Forces exercises at Orlen refineries
During the “Hradba 2025” exercises (November 17-21), the Czech armed forces practiced protecting critical infrastructure at refineries belonging to the Polish energy group Orlen. Local territorial defense units played an important role in the exercises, and one of the most important themes of the exercise scenario was protecting the facility from drone threats.
The course of the armed conflict in Ukraine has clearly shown that critical infrastructure facilities, including energy and fuel facilities, are among the most important targets for the enemy. Their elimination effectively disrupts, for example, logistics processes. Unmanned aerial vehicles pose a particular threat to such targets, as they allow for reconnaissance and strikes using relatively inexpensive means.
Slovak Prime Minister asks NATO to strengthen air defense
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called for the strengthening of his country’s air defense along its eastern border. At the same time, he noted that due to budget constraints, Slovakia is implementing a program to modernize its armed forces at a pace that is feasible for the country.
NATO has a mechanism for strengthening the operational capabilities of individual member states, which is particularly often used in the area of air defense. Examples include initiatives to support countries such as Poland and Turkey in recent years. The Slovak prime minister’s appeal may be met with a mixed reception from allies, given Bratislava’s close relations with Moscow and its blocking of measures to support Ukraine.
Bulgarian MPs overturn presidential veto on defense bill
Bulgarian parliamentarians have overturned President Rumen Radev’s veto on the provisions of the new defense bill, including raising the age limit for soldiers. 128 MPs voted to overturn the veto, 50 voted to uphold it, and 16 abstained.
The issue was important for the command and control system of the local armed forces, as the current Chief of the General Staff, Admiral Emil Yeftimov, will turn 65 next year and would have to resign from office. By raising the maximum age limit to 67, the admiral will be able to complete his term and oversee the implementation of a number of modernization programs.
More K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers for Estonia
Estonia has accepted six more South Korean K9 Thunder howitzers, manufactured by Hanwha Defense, according to the Estonian Defense Investment Center. After planned significant modifications, the vehicles will join the Estonian Defense Forces in a few months and will be incorporated into the 15th Artillery Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade and the newly formed 25th Self-Propelled Howitzer Battalion, part of the Artillery Regiment of the Estonian Division.
K9 Kõu (Estonian for “thunder”) is the name of the Estonian version of the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer. Estonia signed a contract with Hanwha Defense in 2018 for the first 12 used units, which were to replace the FH-70 (155 mm caliber) and D-30 (122 mm caliber) howitzers previously in service. As a result of subsequent contracts, 30 self-propelled howitzers have been delivered to date, and the contract is scheduled to be completed in 2026 with the delivery of the last six units. GoCraft is currently responsible for the modernization of the systems. The changes include, among others, communication and camouflage elements, heating and air conditioning systems, and tires. The modifications were designed to adapt the Korean vehicles to winter conditions and the requirements of the Estonian army.
Sabotage activities by Russian special services
In November 2025, the Lithuanian prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest of 16 people suspected of participating in an organized group responsible for preparing and carrying out terrorist acts. The group allegedly used a network of courier companies (DHL and DPD) to ship parcels containing explosives. According to investigators, the group’s activities were linked to the activities of Russian intelligence structures.
This case is related to an investigation launched in 2024 involving the activities of Lithuanian citizen Aleksandr Shuranov. Together with his associates, he allegedly prepared improvised explosive devices. Two packages were sent by air to the United Kingdom and Germany, and another two were sent by land to Poland. One of the packages exploded in Leipzig, while the other exploded in Poland.
Exercises in Finland with the participation of Polish soldiers and artillery
In November 2025, several large military exercises are being conducted in Finland, the most important of which are: Northern Strike 25-2, Lively Sentry 25, Freezing Winds 25 (Gulf of Finland), Lapland Steel 25, and Northern Axe 25. The Finnish armed forces model, based on universal conscription and huge reserves, requires the involvement of several thousand reservists and conscripts. Numerous allied forces, including those from Sweden, Great Britain, the USA, and Poland, are participating in the exercises.
Poland deployed several dozen soldiers from the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade with Homar-K missile launchers in the Gulf of Finland during the Northern Strike 25-2 exercise. Polish Navy units under Finnish command carried out critical infrastructure protection tasks in the Baltic Sea. These were the first exercises involving the Polish Armed Forces since Finland joined NATO.
CSTO meetings in Bishkek
On November 27, a joint meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers, and the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO Security Councils, as well as a session of the Collective Security Council, will be held in Bishkek, chaired by Kyrgyzstan. Participants will discuss current areas of cooperation, including measures against illegal drug trafficking and illegal migration. During the CSTO session, it is planned to adopt a declaration reflecting the common positions of member states on current security issues, consider the candidacy of the CSTO Secretary General for 2026-2029, and present the priorities of the Russian presidency in 2026.
The meeting will be an opportunity to confirm the political cohesion of the CSTO and to indicate the directions of its further activity in the sphere of regional security.
Recruitment problems in the Russian army
According to Ukrainian intelligence, in 2025 Russia is recruiting an average of about 29,000 contracts per month – the same level as in 2024, which indicates stagnation in the recruitment process. Eleven regions of the Russian Federation have reduced contract payments and benefits for the families of those killed in action, including the Leningrad, Samara, and Nizhny Novgorod regions, as well as the republics of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and Khakassia. The reason for this is the growing regional budget deficits, which exceeded $9 billion in September.
The Kremlin is likely to compensate for the declining attractiveness of military service by intensifying propaganda and administrative pressure.
Russian problems on the front line
Russian sources and bloggers are signaling growing difficulties on the front line. They complain about defective North Korean ammunition, which is said to explode before firing, and orders to carry supplies by hand, which generates losses and slows down operations. Problems with consolidating troops in the so-called gray zones are also growing. Leave has been suspended indefinitely, and investigative committees are looking into losses in the 47th Armored Division.
These signs point to the growing burden on Russian units and the deteriorating organization of combat operations.
Logistics and equipment – the weak points of the Russian army
Military experts note systemic problems in the Russian armed forces in the areas of supplies and technology. There are continuing difficulties with the supply of drones and communications equipment, and the army still uses significantly outdated armored equipment. The need for profound reforms of the logistics system is pointed out – the appointment of General Sanchik, responsible for the supply sector, is interpreted in this context.
Logistical inefficiency is becoming one of the main factors limiting Russia’s operational effectiveness.
FSB – escalation of internal threats (November 2025)
The FSB reports increasing sabotage activity: two saboteurs planning an attack on the Altai-Biysk line were eliminated in Altai. In Krasnodar Krai, a Ukrainian citizen preparing to blow up the tracks was detained. An assassination attempt at the Troekurovsky Cemetery, targeting a high-ranking government official, was also foiled. In St. Petersburg, a student suspected of setting fire to telecommunications masts was detained. In Russia, 4,467 terrorist crimes were recorded in the first nine months of 2025, an increase of 71.8% year-on-year.
The data confirms growing sabotage pressure and an increase in repressive activity by the FSB.
Russian defense industry slows down (data from October 2025)
Rosstat’s September data confirm the first slowdown in defense sector production since the beginning of the war. The production of tanks and armored personnel carriers fell tenfold (from 61.2% to 6%), while metal products recorded a decline of 1.6%. The total growth of the sector was only 0.4% compared to 2.4% in August, with a recession in 18 out of 24 manufacturing segments.
The slowdown is due to the strain on the war budget, rising costs of military operations, limited access to imported components, and the effect of sanctions and lower energy revenues.
News from the Eastern Flank Institute (EFI):
- In an article by Łukasz Maziewski on the XYZ portal, concerning the potential return to conscription, the concept of Universal State Service, presented in the June report of the Eastern Flank Institute and the Sobieski Institute, is extensively described. We recommend reading the entire text (in Polish).
- Last weekend, experts from the Eastern Flank Institute took part in the “Forum Kierunek Polska”, which was held at the Multidisciplinary Research Center of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. Colonel (ret.) Łukasz Paczesny took part in a panel discussion on national resilience, while Sebastian Bojemski participated in a discussion on energy.
