Russia Conducted 18-Month Drone Surveillance of European Nuclear Sites

Russia orchestrated a coordinated drone surveillance campaign targeting nuclear sites across the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands over an 18-month period. Analysis by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) identified 144 incidents in more than a dozen countries, beginning in late 2024. The IISS report, published this week, concluded that Russian intelligence operated with "substantial impunity," leaving European authorities unprepared and confused by the persistent aerial reconnaissance. The surveillance operations utilized shadow fleet vessels as launch points for the drones. Specific incidents included over RAF Lakenheath in the UK, highlighting the broad geographic scope of the campaign. The findings suggest a sustained and deliberate effort by the Kremlin to gather intelligence on critical European infrastructure. The IISS research indicates that the full extent of Russia's activities may still be unknown, given the challenges in detecting and attributing such operations. The report emphasizes the need for enhanced security measures and intelligence sharing among European nations to counter similar future threats. The period of intense surveillance, from late 2024 through the first half of 2026, underscores a significant gap in existing European air defense and surveillance capabilities against unconventional aerial threats. The IISS has called for a more robust and unified response to such intelligence-gathering activities.