July 2, 2026, 5:15 p.mJuly 2, 2026, 5:15 p.m
144 incidents involving Russian drones were observed between 2024 and 2026. (symbol image)Image: Keystone
Drones over airports, military bases and even nuclear sharing facilities: According to an analysis by a British think tank, Russia carried out a drone campaign over a dozen NATO states over a period of one and a half years, largely unmolested.
The unmanned flying objects were launched by tankers from the Russian shadow fleet, freighters near the coast and smaller watercraft. The report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) highlights 144 incidents in 13 countries between August 2024 and February 2026.
Although not every single incident may have originated in Moscow, the experts see a clear pattern, as stated in a statement accompanying the analysis. However, no Western government has officially confirmed this yet.
Testing the responsiveness of NATO states
The background to the campaign is likely to be, among other things, Russian espionage activity, which has become more reliant on information collected by drones since the start of the war in Ukraine and the expulsion of many Russian diplomats. It was also about testing the NATO states’ ability to react.
According to the report, the campaign highlighted significant weaknesses in Europe’s air defense system, which is still focused on traditional threats.
Germany was most affected
According to the report, Germany was the most affected with 58 events. In second place with 25 incidents is Belgium, where, among other things, the Kleine-Brogel air force base, which houses nuclear weapons, was targeted.
According to the report, almost half of the incidents occurred at military facilities and almost 20 percent at civilian airports, many of which had to temporarily suspend operations. A good quarter affected critical infrastructure such as ports, energy plants and industrial sites. (sda/dpa)