Russian defense factory

Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defense, said NATO would give a military response if Russia strikes weapons factories in Europe. The statement from the former Lithuanian prime minister, reported by The Moscow Times' Russian service, is drawing attention amid rising tensions over European arms production supporting Ukraine and fears of direct confrontation between NATO and Russia.

The EU's top defense official, Andrius Kubilius, said Thursday that a Russian bombing attack on a European weapons factory should trigger NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause. His remarks push for treating strikes on European defense industry as an attack on the alliance itself, a significant escalation in how Europe frames Russian aggression beyond Ukraine's borders.

Ukraine has struck a Russian factory described as vital for Moscow's missile production, according to a private intelligence firm. The attack reportedly targeted a facility central to Russia's weapons manufacturing, marking another deep strike into Russian territory as Kyiv seeks to degrade Russia's ability to produce munitions for the war.

The EU's defense chief has warned that any Russian attack on a European arms factory would be treated as an attack on NATO and trigger Article 5, the alliance's collective defense clause. The statement underscores Western concern that Russia could target defense industry facilities in Europe supplying Ukraine, raising the stakes of the war's spillover.

European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said a Russian attack on an arms factory in Europe would trigger a military response from NATO. His warning underscores concern that Moscow could target the defense industry supplying Ukraine, and he argued such a strike would fall under the alliance's security commitments. The remark highlights growing debate about protecting weapons production sites amid the ongoing war.