German police have launched an investigation into suspected cases of Russian espionage after drones were spotted over several military installations in Bavaria, according to a statement on January 13.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s war on Ukraine, it could not be ruled out that drones were spying on German military installations and defence companies, Bavaria’s State Office of Criminal Investigation said.
The latest incident occurred late January 12 when a drone was spotted over a military base near Manching, police said. The base is a vast facility where the German forces test new manned and unmanned aircraft.
The statement said drones were seen over the base near Manching on three days in December. That same month, another unauthorized overflight occurred over a military installation in Neuburg an der Donau.
Germany’s federal police Bundeskriminalamt warned companies in December that there could be Russian saboteurs among their employees and contractors. Russia has denied such accusations.
Investigators pointed to a series of unauthorized drone overflights at sites including military facilities, LNG and oil terminals, seaports and logistics companies as examples of suspected sabotage by Russian state actors in recent months.
The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, Bruno Kahl, said last month Russia’s acts of sabotage against Western targets might eventually prompt NATO to consider invoking the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defence clause.
Under the article, if a NATO member comes under attack, the other members of the alliance are obliged to help it to respond.
The EU Aviation Safety Agency has warned non-European carriers not to fly within western Russia airspace due to the risk of being unintentionally targeted by its air defence systems. https://t.co/AHESf2eoYI
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 10, 2025
