Russian Spy Drones in a German Port

 

Remember, a few days ago, 19 Russian drones were shot down in Poland, a NATO member country.
Yesterday (September 10th), a similar incident was reported, although they were spy drones.
Russia, as is publicly known, uses a fleet of hundreds of "ghost" ships. One of them, the cargo ship "Scanlark," flying the flag of St. Vincent, was in a German port and launched spy drones.
The ship is suspected of having served as a "base for drone flights over critical infrastructure in northern Germany." According to Kieler Nachrichten, a drone reportedly flew over a navy ship and took photographs.
This incident exposes a risky security gap on European territory. This was not an isolated case.
Several hundred spy drone flights have been taking place in Germany, spying on important infrastructure. German coastal states are particularly affected. The targets include military installations, but also critical infrastructure, such as LNG terminals.

According to EuroNews, in the first three months of this year alone (2025), more than 530 drone sightings were recorded over Germany.
Police forces cannot easily decide to shoot them down if there is uncertainty about collateral damage, whether they are carrying explosives, and where the debris might fall.

Bureaucratic Overload in the Fight Against Drones

Before it is possible to intervene against Russian spy drones, the issue of jurisdiction must be clarified. Depending on the crime scene, the police or the German armed forces are responsible, but only on German territory.
However, if the drones take off in international waters, there is no way to act against them. Intervention is only permitted when they enter German airspace, but "here too, the question arises as to whether the issue of jurisdiction has been sufficiently clarified and whether there is a corresponding legal basis," says Schindler.
According to Schindler, whether radar stations are able to effectively detect ascending drones likely depends on their size. Larger drones are therefore easier to recognize.

Source: EuroNews 

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