Russian intelligence services are suspected of deploying reconnaissance drones over routes used by the United States and its allies to transport military supplies through eastern Germany, according to a New York Times report published on August 28, 2025. The flights are believed to be part of a broader Kremlin campaign aimed at supporting Russian military operations in Ukraine and potentially preparing sabotage attacks across Europe.
Increased concerns among US and European officials
Although the number of Russian sabotage incidents peaked last year and has since declined due to heightened security and intelligence cooperation between the US and Europe, the threat remains significant. Western officials warn that drone surveillance allows Moscow to map critical infrastructure, monitor shifting logistics routes, and identify vulnerabilities in supply chains. Such intelligence could be used to disrupt weapons deliveries to Ukraine, potentially altering the course of the conflict.
German media, including WirtschaftsWoche, previously reported drone activity over the eastern state of Thuringia, noting that some of the drones appeared to be of Iranian origin. German intelligence suspects certain flights may have been launched from ships in the Baltic Sea. American officials have confirmed the overflights but said they were unable to trace their exact origin, while maintaining that the drones were likely operated by Russian forces or their proxies.
Strategic risk to Europe’s defense industry
The threat comes just as German defense company Rheinmetall inaugurated the largest ammunition plant in Europe on August 27 in Unterlüß, near Hanover. The facility, designed to produce up to 350,000 artillery shells annually by 2027, represents a major boost to Europe’s defense capacity. However, its strategic importance also makes it a potential target for Russian sabotage, with analysts warning that even an accidental drone strike could trigger explosions, casualties, and serious disruptions to European defense production.
Broader security and psychological implications
Beyond the immediate risk to weapons supplies, the drone flights pose additional dangers. Experts warn that an unmanned aircraft colliding with civilian air traffic could cause a catastrophic accident with mass casualties. Intelligence officials also highlight the psychological dimension, suggesting the Kremlin may be using drone incursions as a form of intimidation to demonstrate its reach and test European security measures.
Russian sabotage operations in recent years have included warehouse fires in the United Kingdom, a cyberattack on a Norwegian dam, and damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Officials fear that renewed drone activity may serve both as operational intelligence-gathering and as fuel for disinformation campaigns portraying European governments as unable to secure their own skies.
Calls for greater European and NATO coordination
Analysts stress that the latest incidents underline the need for stronger intelligence sharing and closer coordination within NATO. The persistence of Russian drone flights, despite increased counterintelligence measures, underscores Moscow’s determination to destabilize Europe and test allied defenses. European governments are now under growing pressure to respond decisively in order to prevent potential large-scale incidents on their territory.
