A surge in mysterious drone flights across NATO airspace in recent weeks has raised security concerns in Europe, with several governments blaming Russia for testing the alliance’s response capabilities amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
European officials said the incursions reached an unprecedented scale last month. On Sept. 10, a swarm of Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO fighter jets to scramble and shoot down some of the devices. It marked the first direct confrontation between the alliance and Moscow since the war began in 2022. Days later, NATO jets escorted three Russian military aircraft out of Estonian airspace.
Drone sightings have since been reported near airports, military installations and critical infrastructure across the continent. European defense ministers have agreed to build a “drone wall” along borders to detect and intercept potential threats. Russia has denied deliberately sending drones into NATO territory and said any incidents were accidental. In several countries, authorities have struggled to verify reported sightings, with some initially believed to be drones later identified as stars or other objects.
On Thursday, Lithuania reported a brief violation of its airspace by Russian military aircraft. The country’s president described the intrusion as a serious breach of sovereignty and a threat to wider European security. NATO aircraft conducting air policing duties were scrambled in response. Russia rejected the claim and insisted its planes followed international rules.
Disruptions have spilled into the civilian aviation sector. Munich Airport was shut down twice earlier this month due to drone sightings. At Copenhagen Airport, flights were severely disrupted on Sept. 22. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out, calling the episode possibly the most serious attack to date on Danish infrastructure. A similar sighting that evening at Norway’s Oslo Airport forced departures and landings onto a single runway while authorities investigated a possible link between incidents.
Danish officials said drones also flew over four smaller airports between Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, including two used by the military. Reports in Danish media noted sightings near Karup Air Base, the country’s largest military site, though the Defense Ministry declined to confirm specific locations, citing operational security.
Germany has launched investigations into drones spotted over key facilities in Schleswig-Holstein. Regional officials confirmed sightings over a power plant, a shipyard, a university hospital and the Heide oil refinery. A reported formation of drones also appeared over Kiel facilities linked to maritime defense technology. Another suspicious flight was recorded above a military base in the neighboring state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Estonia and Lithuania have issued diplomatic protests over recent Russian aircraft intrusions. Estonia summoned a Russian envoy after three fighter jets entered its airspace last month and remained for 12 minutes.
Governments across Europe have been weighing rules on whether to authorize the use of force against drones in real time. Security analysts say the incidents highlight NATO’s vulnerabilities on its northern and eastern flanks as Russia appears to probe for weaknesses while also denying any wrongdoing.
The heightened alert has contributed to wider concerns about escalating tensions between Moscow and the Western alliance, with officials warning that even brief or accidental airspace breaches risk triggering a more serious confrontation.