Since then, officials in France and Ireland have launched investigations. Plus, they’re investigating the wave of still-unexplained drone sightings over military installations that have popped up over the last week. Such incidents have sparked panic over Moscow’s attempts to threaten European security. The focus these days is particularly on what Russia is up to in the region.
To start the week, three drones flew through the night sky over Dublin. This was timed with the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his first official trip to Ireland. This more recent sighting is part of a disturbing trend. It is no surprise then that both countries have recently announced drone incursions over their sensitive military installations. In France, drones were spotted flying around the Ile Longue submarine base, home to nuclear ballistic missile submarines. Specifically, drone flights are actually prohibited on the Crozon peninsula, where this submarine base and other military infrastructure are embedded.
French prosecutors have since established that all of the drones around the submarine base went unshot down. They reasserted that not a single pilot has been found. This lack of transparency and accountability leads to important questions about what is behind these flights.
European officials have grown concerned of Moscow’s possible role in these incidents. Most of the recent drone sightings have happened off the coastlines of Baltic and other European countries in close proximity to Russia. Copenhagen Airport, one of the busiest airports in Scandinavia, was shut down by drone activity on September 22. At the time, a Russian vessel, Boracay, was in the vicinity, approximately 50 nautical miles south of the city. French authorities had come on board after the incident to check the vessel. They actually arrested its Chinese captain for failing to produce evidence of the ship’s nationality.
In a television interview, French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin underscored the gravity of the situation.
“An investigation is underway that will determine what this overflight was all about.” – Catherine Vautrin
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen yesterday laid bare the increasingly urgent threat presented by Russia.
“We can at least conclude that there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that is Russia.” – Mette Frederiksen
Coming after similar incidents across multiple European countries since September, including Belgium and the Netherlands, these sightings have sparked an awakening in many communities. Interestingly, French marines stationed at the base appear to have deployed jamming technology against several of these drones. It is still not clear how many drones are at play or what their goals would be.
…speculation that Moscow might be behind them Russian president Vladimir Putin has rejected any such accusations in connection with these drone sightings across Europe. Nonetheless, many onlookers are still not convinced, particularly with the alarming rate and closeness of those incidents to U.S. military installations.
