Kremlin Suspected of Flying Drones Over Europe Using Russian Shadow Fleet

Mysterious drone flights that disrupted major European airports and flew over NATO member military bases hosting US nuclear weapons may be the work of a coordinated Kremlin campaign launched from Russian-linked commercial ships. The UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies used automatic identification system (AIS) maritime tracking data and other publicly available data to show how Russian-linked ships and 'shadow fleet' vessels that transport sanctioned Russian oil were often located nearby during various drone incidents. The report suggests that the drone incidents—which impacted a dozen NATO member countries and Ireland between August 2024 and February 2026—also revealed the vulnerability of European air defenses against surveillance and harassment incursions by low-cost drones.

The IISS report identified 144 drone sightings over Europe during that time period that were unlikely to involve hobbyist recreational drones or drone activity related to the war in Ukraine. About 48 percent of the sightings took place over military bases, 26 percent happened over critical infrastructure such as ports and energy or industrial facilities, and 18 percent occurred over civilian airports. Most occurred at night or in the early morning hours before sunrise, and the drones themselves were typically described in media reports as resembling 'professional' or 'military-style' drones.

The Kremlin's alleged use of drones to surveil and harass European military bases and critical infrastructure raises significant concerns about the vulnerability of European air defenses. This campaign may be an effort to test the defenses of NATO member countries, potentially in preparation for future military actions. The use of low-cost drones also highlights the challenges of detecting and intercepting such threats, which could have significant implications for European security.

As the threat of drone-based surveillance and harassment continues to grow, European countries will need to invest in developing effective countermeasures to protect their military bases, critical infrastructure, and civilian populations. The international community will also need to consider new ways to regulate and monitor the use of drones to prevent such threats in the future.