Liam Nolan

Eastern Europe Reporter

Supporters of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) attend a rally in Chisinau, Moldova, on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The parliamentary election in the former Soviet state has ramifications far beyond the country of 2.4 million people and widely seen as a l

Moldova's high-stakes vote: Democracy v disinformation

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has told RTÉ News that Russia has tried to influence tomorrow's high-stakes parliamentary election in the country through a campaign of bribery and disinformation about the European Union.

Analysis and Comment • 19 hrs

VISTYTIS, LITHUANIA - OCTOBER 28: A field of corn stands near the border to the Russian semi-exclave of Kaliningrad on October 28, 2022 ne Vistytis, Lithuania. Vistytis lies in the strategically vital Suwalki Gap, an approximately 70km long stretch of lan

What is the Suwalki Gap and is it NATO's weak point?

A narrow stretch of land marking the border between Poland and Lithuania, known as the Suwalki Gap, has long been viewed by western military analysts as a potential weak point in NATO's eastern flank. How vulnerable is it?

Analysis and Comment • 21 Sep

Police and army inspect damage to a house destroyed by debris from a shot down Russian drone in the village of Wyryki-Wola, Poland

Polish missile likely damaged house during incursion

A house in eastern Poland that was damaged during last week's Russian drone incursions into the country, was likely hit by a missile fired by a Polish fighter jet, a Polish government minister has said.

Europe • 18 Sep

The Irish Defence Forces transported the vehicles from Ireland to southeastern Poland in two convoys (File image)

Irish Defence Forces to donate vehicles to Ukraine's army

Thirty-four vehicles belonging to the Irish Defence Forces have arrived at a co-ordination hub in Rzeszów, southeastern Poland, and are due to be donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Ukraine • 18 Sep

NATO 'should think about' Ukraine no-fly zone - Poland

Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski has said that NATO countries should think about introducing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as a way of preventing drones from entering the airspace of the alliance's member states.

Ukraine • 15 Sep

Police and army inspect damage to a house destroyed by debris from a shot down Russian drone in the village of Wyryki-Wola, eastern Poland

High tension: Poland after the drone incursions

Last Wednesday's mass drone incursions into Poland marked a significant escalation in tensions between Russia and NATO, and raises the spectre of a new phase of Russian tactics in the wider region.

Analysis and Comment • 14 Sep

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte stands next to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander at a press conference

NATO to beef up eastern flank following drone incursion

NATO has announced plans to beef up the defence of Europe's eastern flank, two days after Poland shot down drones that had violated its airspace in the first known action of its kind by a member of the Western alliance during Russia's war in Ukraine.

Europe • 12 Sep

General Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, arrives for an extraordinary government cabinet meeting following violations of Polish airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine in Warsaw, Poland

United front after Russian drones over Polish skies

Shortly before 8am local time (7am Irish time) Poland's armed forces said it ended its operation in response to reported drone activity close to its eastern borders, following overnight Russian drone strikes on western Ukraine.

Analysis and Comment • 10 Sep

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 2 (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) enter the hall during their bilateral meeting, September 2, 2025, in Beijing, China. Presidengt Putin is visiting China and will atten

Why Robert Fico wants normal relations with Russia

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing this week for the third time since last December and called for the "standardisation of relations" between Slovakia and Russia. What's driving this policy?

Analysis and Comment • 06 Sep

WARSAW, POLAND - AUGUST 24: People gather to celebrate the Independence Day Of Ukraine, at Castle Square in Warsaw, Poland on August 24, 2025. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Young Ukrainians doubtful about prospects for peace

In a week when Russian forces returned to bombing Kyiv with missiles and drones, killing 23 people, including four children, our reporter Liam Nolan speaks to young Ukrainians living in the Polish capital Warsaw about whether they think the US-led peace initiative to end the war can succeed.

Ukraine • 30 Aug