A British think tank reveals Russia’s extensive drone surveillance campaign targeting NATO nations, with Germany most affected.

According to an analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Russia conducted a widespread drone surveillance campaign across 12 NATO countries over 18 months, with Germany being the primary target. The drones reportedly operated near airports, military bases, and even nuclear-sharing facilities, launched from Russian shadow fleet tankers, coastal cargo ships, and smaller vessels.

The IISS report documented 144 incidents across 13 countries between August 2024 and February 2026. While not all incidents were definitively linked to Moscow, experts identified a clear pattern. The campaign aimed to gather intelligence, particularly after the expulsion of Russian diplomats following the Ukraine war, and to test NATO’s response capabilities. The findings highlighted vulnerabilities in European air defenses, which remain focused on traditional threats. Germany experienced 58 incidents, including six over the U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein and Bundeswehr sites in Manching and Neuburg an der Donau. Belgium ranked second with 25 incidents, including at the Kleine-Brogel airbase, which houses nuclear weapons. Nearly half of the incidents targeted military facilities, while others disrupted civilian airports and critical infrastructure.