Russia conducted a large-scale espionage operation targeting strategic nuclear and military facilities across several European countries for 18 months. The drones were launched directly from vessels of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” according to a new report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
According to the study, at least 144 drone incidents were recorded between August 2024 and February 2026 over the territory of more than ten NATO countries and Ireland. Roughly half of them involved military and nuclear sites. The drones appear to have been unarmed, but they systematically gathered intelligence, tested air defence systems, and identified vulnerabilities in NATO’s defences.
Russian drones conducted close surveillance of Europe’s most sensitive strategic assets:
Nuclear arsenals and key Royal Air Force bases in the United Kingdom;
France’s Île Longue submarine base — the heart of France’s strategic nuclear forces, home to nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines;
Military sites in the Netherlands and Belgium housing American B61 nuclear bombs;
Numerous military bases in Germany and other NATO countries.
IISS analysts note that the drones were launched from civilian vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet — in particular, tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports. Among the suspected ships are the HAV Dolphin and Seasons 1, which were operating in the North Sea near British facilities.
Many of the drone flights caused significant disruptions to civil aviation, including airport closures, flight delays, and NATO fighter jet scrambles. Experts believe the operation aimed not only at gathering intelligence but also at testing the response of European air defence systems to low-flying, relatively slow-moving targets.
European authorities have so far refrained from issuing official accusations against Moscow, but the incidents have caused serious concern within NATO. Similar cases in the past have already led to diplomatic protests and increased air patrols.