Drones in Poland, what drones? Russian state television focuses on other news

Russian state television has downplayed Poland's accusations that Moscow flew drones over the territory of a NATO member, focusing instead on alleged saboteurs, the Israeli attack on Qatar, the protests in Paris and a regional train named "Nightingale."

After Poland announced that it had shot down drones in its airspace, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the flights as a provocation by Moscow, saying it brought the former Warsaw Pact member the closest it had come to open conflict since World War II.

When asked about the drones and Tusk's statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We would not like to comment on this in any way. This is not our responsibility - it is the prerogative (exclusive right) of the Ministry of Defense," he said, according to Reuters.

Russia's Defense Ministry, in a statement more than 13 hours after Warsaw scrambled fighter jets, said it had carried out a massive attack with long-range weapons and drones on the military-industrial complex of western Ukraine - and that it had no intention of attacking anything in Poland.

It added that the Russian drones "which allegedly crossed the border with Poland" have a range of no more than 700 km (434 miles).

Russian television's Channel One began its midday newscast with a report on the arrest of an alleged saboteur allegedly recruited by Ukraine, and on the successful reconstruction in Donbas, a region largely controlled by Russian forces.

It also aired reports on protests in France, the Israeli attack on Qatar and a four-minute story about the legendary "Nightingale" train. Channel One did not mention the drones in Poland in that news report. State television did not respond to a request for comment.

"It's strange that the incident with Poland is not discussed at all on our networks. Superficially and fragmentarily," said Russian nationalist Alexander Dugin.

The Rossiya 24 television channel began with a report on President Vladimir Putin's meeting with a regional governor and Israeli attacks on Qatar, but also carried Tusk's statements about drone flights, followed by a report on the protests in Paris, Reuters reports.

Russian news agencies such as TASS and RIA have prominently reported the Kremlin's reaction to the Polish accusations. Russian newspapers such as Kommersant and leading media portals such as RBK have also opened their reports with the topic of drones and NATO's response.

Western intelligence agencies claim that Russia is a master of "hybrid warfare" and has repeatedly sought to test Western defenses and technology. Moscow, on the other hand, says the West has launched its own hybrid war against it.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that claims by Western European countries that Russia could one day attack NATO members are nonsense aimed at portraying Russia as an enemy. Russia insists it has no intention of provoking war with the US-led alliance.