Key facts
- Mysterious drone flights over Europe occurred between August 2024 and February 2026.
- These drone flights are suspected to be a Kremlin campaign.
- Russian-linked commercial ships may have been used to launch the drones.
- The drone flights probed allied defenses.
- The drone flights revealed vulnerabilities in European air traffic control.
- Ukraine struck eight Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers.
- The attacks occurred in the Sea of Azov.
- The targeted tankers were delivering fuel to Crimea.
- Ukraine's strikes aim to disrupt Russian military logistics.
- Ukraine's strikes aim to reduce Moscow's revenue streams.
Mysterious drone flights observed over Europe between August 2024 and February 2026 are suspected to be part of a coordinated Kremlin campaign. These operations reportedly utilized Russian-linked commercial ships, part of Moscow's 'shadow fleet,' to launch the drones. The flights are believed to have probed allied defenses and exposed vulnerabilities within European air traffic control systems. This intelligence suggests a deliberate effort by the Kremlin to test and potentially exploit European security measures.
In parallel, Ukraine has conducted strikes against Russia's 'shadow fleet.' Ukrainian drone forces successfully attacked eight tankers belonging to this fleet in the Sea of Azov. These tankers were reportedly involved in delivering fuel to Crimea. The attacks are framed as a strategic effort by Ukraine to disrupt Russian military logistics and diminish Moscow's financial revenue streams. The dual nature of these events indicates a complex interplay of Russian intelligence gathering and Ukrainian counter-offensive actions.