European press reports have revealed US intelligence warnings about a possible Russian operation using drones against targets in Spain, France or Italy, launched from commercial ships in the Mediterranean, as European countries raise their alert levels to counter unmanned aircraft and operations described as hybrid.
Intelligence warning over Russian drones
Spain's El Mundo newspaper reported that US intelligence had provided several European governments with information about the possibility of Russian drones being concealed inside containers aboard commercial ships and then launched from the sea towards targets in southern European countries. The US Central Intelligence Agency and Russian authorities have not publicly confirmed the information.
The newspaper quoted a source close to Lithuania's Ministry of Defence as saying that the scenario under discussion involved the use of Gerbera drones, launched from maritime locations to target facilities or sites in France, Spain or Italy. The information remains within the scope of warnings about a possible operation, and is not an announcement that an attack has taken place or that Moscow has decided to carry one out.
Gerbera drone specifications and flight range
The drone's explosive payload is estimated at between 4 and 5 kilograms, a limited load compared with those carried by larger attack drones. According to the report, these specifications make the drone more suitable for causing limited damage or disrupting the operation of facilities, including airports, ports and equipment in exposed locations, rather than causing widespread destruction.
A map published by the newspaper showed a hypothetical operating range of 600 kilometres from various points in the Mediterranean. Under this scenario, wide areas of the coastlines and inland regions of Spain, France and Italy could fall within range if the drones were launched from ships positioned at suitable locations at sea.
Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow and its link to the warnings
The report linked the warnings to a rare and unannounced visit to Moscow by US Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe on 25 August. The Washington Post had disclosed the visit, saying that a US government aircraft took off from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington for the Russian capital before leaving Moscow about eight and a half hours later.
Washington has not officially disclosed the substance of Ratcliffe's visit or the nature of the talks he held during it. El Mundo reported, however, that European governments received information about the possibility of a drone operation after the visit, while reports said the agency director carried a warning to Moscow against launching attacks or carrying out provocations against North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.
The substance of that message could not be independently verified. The warnings come amid growing European concern over the use of drones and hybrid operations. Over the past two years, 16 NATO member states have recorded drone-related violations or found unmanned aircraft debris, alongside moves within alliance countries to strengthen detection and interception capabilities.
European measures to protect critical infrastructure
In France, President Emmanuel Macron recently called for a plan to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive defence sites from possible drone attacks, alongside cyberattacks. His call came amid what Paris describes as growing Russian hybrid threats that could target European countries and their essential facilities.
Information about the possibility of a Russian operation in southern Europe remains based on an intelligence warning reported by the Spanish newspaper, citing unnamed sources.
No official announcement has so far confirmed the existence of a Russian decision to launch an attack, and no specific targets have been identified within the scenario under discussion.
