Russia suspected of using shadow fleet ships to launch drones over Europe, report says
A new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies suggests that mysterious drone flights over European military bases and airports may be part of a coordinated Kremlin campaign launched from Russian-linked commercial ships, highlighting vulnerabilities in European air defenses.
According to the IISS report, between August 2024 and February 2026, there were 144 drone sightings over Europe that were unlikely to involve hobbyist drones or Ukraine war-related activity. About 48% of sightings occurred over military bases, 26% over critical infrastructure such as ports and energy facilities, and 18% over civilian airports. Most happened at night or early morning, and the drones were typically described as professional or military-style.
The report notes that only one incident was directly attributed to Russia: in February 2026, the Swedish military confirmed spotting and jamming a drone launched from the Russian intelligence vessel Zhigulevsk in Swedish territorial waters. This demonstrated that Russian-linked ships can launch drones for surveillance.
Potential drone candidates include the Russian-made Merlin-VR, which can be launched from a ship via catapult and recovered by parachute, and vertical-take-off-and-landing drones like the Legioner E29. The Orlan-10, with a 500 km range and 12-hour endurance, is also frequently mentioned and could be launched from vessels far from European coasts.
The report highlights the oil tanker Boracay, part of Russia's shadow fleet. After drone flights disrupted Danish airports in September 2025, Danish authorities investigated the vessel. On September 28, 2025, French naval commandos boarded the Boracay off the French coast and found a Chinese captain and two Russians employed by the Moran Security Group, a private military company linked to former FSB officers. One of the Russians had previously worked for the Wagner Group. On March 30, 2026, a French court sentenced the Chinese captain in absentia to one year in prison and fined him $172,000.
Other incidents include drone flights over RAF Lakenheath in November 2024, when the cargo ship Hav Dolphin with a Russian crew was docked in the UK. The same ship later anchored near Kiel, Germany, coinciding with drone sightings at a submarine base. Drones also flew over Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Belgium, which houses US nuclear weapons, and over Ramstein Air Base in Germany. In the Netherlands, a coordinated flight of up to 10 drones occurred at Volkel Air Base in November 2025, forcing a temporary shutdown of civil air traffic.
The European Union is developing the European Drone Defence Initiative (EDDI) to deploy interoperable counter-drone technologies, but it is not expected to be fully functional until the end of 2027. The IISS report warns that hardware alone is insufficient without political will and clear rules of engagement, urging European governments to strengthen maritime accountability to prevent shadow fleet vessels from launching drones with impunity.
