Report: Putin prepares for escalation in Ukraine and increased attacks on its allies

A report in the British Telegraph, based on Western intelligence sources, states that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for an escalation in the war in Ukraine and an increase in hybrid attacks on Kyiv's European allies. The preparations include a quiet mobilization of thousands of soldiers after the Russian parliamentary elections, which will take place this weekend. An intelligence source was quoted as saying: "We see administrative preparations to make this possible, if that is the decision." Meanwhile, it was revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in real danger when his plane was nearly hit by a drone on its way to Norway for the funeral of King Harald V. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre revealed the incident. An official in his office said there was a drone threat in Moldova's airspace that caused a flight delay. Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Zelensky reported threats. However, a source in the Ukrainian presidency told AFP that the claim of real danger is "exaggerated."