IISS says Russia ran coordinated drone surveillance campaign against European nuclear sites

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Russia carried out a coordinated campaign targeting nuclear facilities across Europe, launching drones from vessels in its shadow fleet, The Times reported. After examining 144 incidents in more than 12 countries over 12 months, experts concluded that Russian intelligence services coordinated the surveillance operation against nuclear sites in Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, the newspaper reported. Analysts identified the cargo ship HAV Dolphin, operated by a Russian crew, as anchoring off Hull, England, during the same period. A tanker named Seasons 1 was located near Essex in the North Sea. The experts said Moscow likely conducted the drone campaign inside NATO airspace between August 2024 and February 2026. In November 2024, drones were reported over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. The IISS assessment was cited in The Times of London.