A bombshell report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reveals that Vladimir Putin likely used Russian shadow ships to launch drones over Europe to spy on nuclear weapons in Britain. The report, published on Thursday, July 2, 2026, documents a total of 144 suspected drone sightings across Europe, including in NATO member states such as Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, and Denmark, between 2024 and 2026. Sightings peaked in late 2025, forcing the temporary closure of several European airports, including in Germany, Spain, and Denmark.
Targeted UK Sites and Shadow Fleet Involvement
Among the UK sites targeted was RAF Lakenheath, a US base in Suffolk preparing to host nuclear bombs. In November 2024, drones breached its airspace, along with that of three other US sites in England. A sanctioned Russian tanker docked in Hull at the time has since been blamed for launching the drones. The IISS report states that the drones “exploited numerous gaps” in NATO air defences during a “sustained” 15-month campaign by the Kremlin.
European Nuclear Bases Also Spied On
Bases across Europe were also spied on, including the secret submarine base at Île Longue in Brittany, northern France, which houses the bulk of the country’s nuclear missiles, as well as air bases containing nuclear bombs in Belgium and the Netherlands. In January 2025, as the shadow fleet vessel Arctica sailed along the Danish coast, up to 20 drones flew over the port of Køge, Denmark, before disappearing toward the sea. On September 22, drone sightings led to the closure of Copenhagen Airport. The IISS found several shadow ships were in the area at the time, including the Arctica and the Boracay. Over the next few days, as the Boracay rounded Denmark, more drones were reported across the country, including near military installations.
German Authorities Record Over 1,000 Suspicious Sightings
German authorities recorded more than 1,000 suspicious drone sightings in 2025, including over defence companies and military bases where Ukrainian soldiers were training. The IISS said the Russian campaign was designed to fall below the threshold that would trigger discussions of a collective NATO response and was a “strategic failure” for Europe, revealing that the continent’s air defences are not fit to deal with the current threat.
Strategic Vulnerability Highlighted by Expert
“The pattern of sightings across 15 months and 13 countries cannot be explained by misidentification or opportunism alone,” said Charlie Edwards, IISS senior fellow for strategy and national security and co-author of the report. “Russia has demonstrated, repeatedly and in public, that it can penetrate the airspace of NATO member states — including over nuclear sites — without triggering a collective allied response. That gap between capability and political will is now a strategic vulnerability.”
NATO Official Refuses to Blame Moscow
Air Chief Marshal John Stringer, NATO's deputy supreme allied commander in Europe, refused to blame Moscow for the drone incursions but suggested that the activity conformed to the pattern of behaviour seen in a widespread campaign of disruption across Europe, which Western officials have blamed on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. In May, Putin denied that Russia is waging a sabotage campaign against Europe.
Shadow Fleet Critical to Russia’s War Effort
The report added that the mass expulsion of Russian intelligence officers from European capitals following the 2022 invasion had severely degraded the Kremlin’s spy network on the Continent. Moscow’s shadow fleet is critical in funding Putin’s war machine in Ukraine and in keeping Russia’s economy afloat. The clandestine fleet of more than 700 old vessels is responsible for carrying 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). To circumvent restrictions, vessels use complex ownership and corporate management structures, flags of convenience, and frequently change their names.
A British defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military information to AP News, said a defence police investigation found no evidence to conclusively link the drone sightings in the UK to Russia. The Express has contacted the MoD for comment.
