Poland’s Civil Defence Push: Prime Minister Donald Tusk says Poland will fund its 2027-2031 Population Protection and Civil Defence Programme with PLN 102.4bn (about US$26.4bn), prioritising shelters, rescue capacity, and uninterrupted water and energy supplies. NATO Air Shield for Ukraine Aid Hub: Sweden will deploy a Patriot system and about 100 troops to Rzeszów from December to protect the NATO logistics hub supplying aid to Ukraine, replacing the Netherlands. Readiness Drills on Polish Soil: NATO Forward Land Forces-Poland held an ALERTEX rehearsal at Bemowo Piskie to validate rapid crisis response and handover procedures. Orlen Probe Hits Election-Era Fuel Cuts: Poland detains and charges five current and former Orlen senior managers over alleged artificial fuel price cuts ahead of the 2023 election, with prosecutors citing over PLN 4.1bn in damage. EU Rule-of-Law Safeguards: The European Commission proposes a 15-year probation period for new EU members, including possible loss of voting rights or funds for democratic backsliding. Ukraine War Pressure: Russia’s air defences intercepted nearly 900 Ukrainian drones overnight as Kyiv braces for a “massive” aerial strike. Lithuania Nuclear Ban Lift: Lithuania’s parliament backs a constitutional amendment to remove the ban on WMD, potentially enabling NATO nuclear deterrence participation. Cyber Risk to Energy: Dutch researchers warn thousands of wind and solar administrative systems across Europe are exposed online, raising sabotage and disruption risks.