A report cited by The Guardian says Russia conducted an extensive drone surveillance campaign over European nuclear sites for more than 18 months, compiling evidence of dozens of incidents across multiple countries.

The analysis, attributed to researchers at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, examined 144 drone-related incidents recorded across airspace in a variety of European states. The report alleges the campaign targeted nuclear-related sites in countries including the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and argues Russian operations continued with “substantial impunity.”

The Guardian also frames the campaign as part of Russia’s broader unconventional approach toward Europe, suggesting that drones were used not only for disruption but also for intelligence-gathering—testing how air defences detect and respond to unmanned aircraft.

The reporting highlights the national-security implications: investigators say the pattern of incidents points to gaps in coverage and enforcement against drone incursions, especially in scenarios where air-defence systems were designed with conventional aircraft in mind.