- Russia suspected of using drones to fly over German nuclear power plant
- Germany is one of Russia’s biggest critics and one of Ukraine’s biggest allies.
- Russia may be considering Germany as a potential sabotage target
Russia is suspected of flying several drones, including military unmanned aerial vehicles, over a nuclear power plant in Germany, state security officials said.
Germany is a leading critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has provided or committed a total of €28bn (£23.77bn) in funding or direct arms deliveries.
Russia now appears to be considering Germany as a potential sabotage target, intelligence officials told Bild.
According to sources who spoke to the newspaper, a flying object was detected flying over the industrial area of Brunsbütte, on the northern coast of Germany, last night.
Drones have been flying over the area, which includes a nuclear power plant, a liquefied natural gas terminal and several chemical plants, since at least August 8 and have been attributed to Russian agents who are likely launching them from civilian ships in the North Sea.
Russia is suspected of flying several drones, including military unmanned aerial vehicles, over a nuclear power plant in Germany, state security officials said.
A flying object was detected hovering over the industrial area of Brunsbütte, on the north coast of Germany, (pictured) last night
State security officers from the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Investigation Office told the newspaper that they believe the drones they have not yet captured are Orlan-10 unmanned drones (pictured).
Germany is one of the main critics of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine (pictured)
State security agents from the Schleswig-Holstein state Criminal Investigation Office told the paper they believe the drones they have not yet captured are Orlan-10 unmanned drones, which can travel at speeds of more than 90 mph for a total of 370 miles in one go.
Drones have been used around the world, most notably in Syria during the country’s civil war, where they were employed for reconnaissance, aerial imaging and 3D mapping in support of humanitarian convoys, as well as search and rescue operations.
Police officers in Lower Saxony and Hamburg are now on alert for future drone activity.
Putin held a meeting with senior officials today on the situation in Russian regions bordering Ukraine after Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion into the Kursk region on August 6.
Ukraine’s lightning incursion at Kursk, the largest into Russia by a foreign power since World War II, saw thousands of Ukrainian troops pour across Russia’s western border, apparently taking Moscow by surprise.
Smoke rising from buildings that were reportedly attacked by Ukrainian forces, amid their ongoing incursion, in Glushkovo, Kursk region, Russia
A destroyed Russian tank lies on the side of a road near the town of Sudzha, Russia, in the Kursk region, August 16, 2024.
A Ukrainian soldier patrols an area in the town of Sudzha, controlled by the Ukrainian army, in the Kursk region, Russia
Heavy fighting has since erupted as Russian troops attempt to dislodge Ukrainian soldiers who have sought to consolidate and expand the territory they control.
“I have gathered them together to discuss the situation that is currently developing in Russia’s border regions,” Putin said at the opening of the meeting.
First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said Russia was assessing damage to agriculture and industry in border regions.
The acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, reported that 133,190 people had left or been evacuated from his region. Putin asked Smirnov if cooperation with law enforcement and military agencies was working. Smirnov replied that it was.
Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz informed Putin that border forces had repelled an attempt by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance team to enter the region.