US Intel: Putin Could Test NATO With Attack

On 7 August 2026, US intelligence was reported to have assessed that Putin could test NATO with a limited attack or incursion on one NATO country, aimed at testing the alliance's unity. The timing given varied: The Telegraph and WELT wrote that Russia could attack within weeks, the New York Post said as early as this fall, and Kyiv Post and the Jerusalem Post said in the coming years. The Wall Street Journal linked the assessment to dwindling US munitions.

Separately, Russian outlets TASS, Gazeta.ru and Lenta.ru wrote that hackers found evidence of NATO involvement in strikes on Russian territory in files on attacks by Ukrainian forces.