A new report says Russia runs a sustained drone campaign over parts of Europe, including operations that disrupt civilian aviation and appear aimed at monitoring and testing air defenses. According to the outlets’ reporting on the findings, Russian forces likely launch drones from “shadow ships”—vessels that operate in a way that obscures their role—before the drones enter airspace near or above multiple countries.
The campaign is described as repeatedly affecting civilian flights, suggesting the drones create hazards or force rerouting and heightened attention from aviation authorities. The report also characterizes the operations as serving dual military purposes: observing or monitoring military sites and probing the air-defense capabilities of NATO nations. By testing how detection and response systems handle repeated drone incursions, the activities are presented as a form of pressure and assessment rather than isolated incidents.
The coverage is consistent across outlets in describing the use of shadow ships, the pattern of disruption to civilian aviation, and the link between the drones’ presence and efforts to evaluate NATO air defenses. The reporting reflects the claims of the report rather than confirmed details from each incident.
