The autumn of 2025 marked a new stage in the Russian-European confrontation. Previously, violations of the airspace of European countries by Russian drones were episodic, but now they have acquired a systemic and massive nature. September saw the peak of alarming incidents. In Poland and Romania, Germany and Denmark, drone strikes or attacks were recorded, as well as the detention of ships suspected of launching them. These facts raise questions not only about the security of air space and ground facilities of certain states, but also about the strategic intentions of Moscow, which clearly seeks to increase tensions in the European region.
On September 10, the Polish military recorded a massive violation of airspace when about 19 Russian drones crossed the border, several of which were shot down. Warsaw has decided to hold consultations under NATO Article 4, which means direct contact with the allies in a situation of threat to national security. However, Poland is not facing such cases for the first time. In 2023-2024. Russian missiles and drones launched on Ukraine have already landed in its territory. But this case is distinguished by its scale and clear demonstration. Northern Germany was also at the centre of investigations in late September following reports of drone strikes over strategic targets such as power plants, hospitals, shipyards and military bases. Authorities suspect intelligence activities aimed at mapping critical infrastructure. At almost the same time, Denmark reported forced closure of airspace over Copenhagen due to unidentified drones. And although in both cases there is no direct evidence indicating that the drones belong to Russia, experts agree that it is its political «shenanigans».
Special attention was drawn by the military to investigations into the possible launching of drones from Russian or Russia-related vessels. In early October, the French military detained off the coast of Denmark oil tanker from the Russian «shadow fleet», which could be used as a platform to launch drones. Previously, a number of experts noted that the use of civilian courts as «mobile platforms» allows Moscow to hide the origin of attacking vehicles and create difficulties for international investigations. Thus, the coast of Europe at any moment can appear «innocent» commercial vessel that is actually a carrier of unmanned systems.
The intensity and systematic violation of European borders by drones required appropriate responses from the EU and NATO. At the end of September in Denmark, EU East Coast Defense Ministers, as well as representatives from Ukraine and NATO discussed the development of modern detection, tracking and interception capabilities for drones. At the meeting, it was stated that it is necessary to create a single «wall against drones» – a system that will combine the means of radar monitoring, radio-electronic countermeasures and air defense. However, the implementation of such plans requires time, finances and coordination among states, which is traditionally a weakness of European security policy. Moscow, on the contrary, is already acting today, turning cheap drones into a tool of strategic pressure. Thus, for the period from September 2024 to September 2025. 36 facts were recorded in 9 European countries. Thus, for the period from September 2024 to September 2025. 36 facts were recorded in 9 European countries.
It should be understood that the massive invasion of drones has not only military, but also socio-political dimensions.
Residents of the border regions, from the Carpathian Mountains in Poland to the coastal areas of Denmark, are increasingly faced with alarming reports about unknown vehicles, evacuations and, more recently, airport closures. This erodes a sense of security and undermines the credibility of the authorities in their ability to protect the population.
Every attack by drones, or even their appearance within the country’s airspace, puts significant political pressure on governments, forcing national cabinets to reassess military spending towards its increase and demand a tough response from allies.
Looking at the totality of the facts, it becomes clear that Russia’s actions cannot be explained by accident or technical glitches. There are too many episodes, too wide a geography and too systemic of these incidents to be seen as a chain of errors. Everything points to the fact that Moscow is consciously using drones as a means of pressure, fitting them into a hybrid war strategy against Europe and NATO. First of all, the mass launches of drones are a verification of the readiness of the defense systems of the alliance. Each incident becomes a kind of «test» of how quickly violations are detected, how quickly fighters and air defense systems react, what technical and organizational weaknesses can be identified. For Russia, this is a relatively cheap way to obtain intelligence on the enemy without resorting to open military confrontation.
The psychological aspect is equally important. Drones create a sense of instability and vulnerability. After all, where until recently residents of European capitals and border cities felt completely safe, now alarm bells are ringing about unidentified objects in the sky and temporary restrictions are being imposed on airports. An atmosphere is emerging in which the very idea of a «peaceful European sky» is gradually eroding, and the sense of security is being undermined even without direct damage.
Finally, these incidents strike at the inner unity of the European Union because different countries perceive threats differently. Poland and the Baltic States demand the harshest response possible, while some Western European countries tend to view the problem as a limited episode that does not require a sharp escalation. Such a split benefits Moscow, as it reduces the effectiveness of collective solutions and undermines the EU’s ability to act as a single moderator in security matters. Today’s events show that the era when Europe’s airspace was considered a zone of assured security is over. Russian drones in the European sky are no longer just a technological challenge. The drones have become one of the most convenient and effective means of modern hybrid strategy of Moscow. The detention of vessels suspected of launching drones only confirms that this is a well-thought-out and multi-layered operation. Europe has been faced with the need to work out a collective response as soon as possible, otherwise «small» incidents can turn into a major crisis.
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