Russia appears to have run a sustained drone campaign across Europe, with a report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) identifying at least 144 suspected drone sightings linked to Russia’s activities, according to coverage of the report published with the Associated Press.

The IISS traced the incidents across multiple European countries—some NATO members including Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark—spanning roughly 2024 to 2026. The report says the pattern included frequent disruptions to civilian aviation, with airport closures reported in late 2025.

The IISS also concludes that Russia likely launched drones from “shadow fleet” tankers, vessels often associated with Russia’s attempt to avoid sanctions and maintain supply chains. This approach is described as enabling repeated incursions while making attribution difficult.

Officials in Europe characterized the activity as serious for critical infrastructure and national security. The IISS said the campaign was designed to remain below thresholds that would trigger a unified NATO response and argued that it exposed gaps in European air-defense readiness against the current threat.

While some governments and security officials said it can be difficult to conclusively attribute the drone flights to Russia, NATO leadership indicated that the behavior fits a broader pattern Western officials have repeatedly associated with Russia’s hybrid strategy. The report also details alleged drone activity near or over military installations, including sites tied to NATO operations and, in some accounts, nuclear-related facilities.