Unmanned aerial vehicles persistently hovering above the Federal Police vessel for extended periods.
In the North Sea, a patrol ship from the federal police has been keeping watch over a Russian freighter en route to Belgium. However, the ship's crew reported a peculiar incident: a series of drones, allegedly seven in total, that circled both the police vessel and the Russian freighter for nearly three hours. The incident occurred on May 17, around 140 kilometers north of Borkum.
According to a confidential situation report obtained by Spiegel, the Russian freighter in question is the "Lauga." The German news outlet also reported that no concrete evidence of the drone encounters was discovered during a subsequent inspection of the freighter in the target port.
The drone sightings have become a noteworthy security concern in the North Sea region, with numerous occurrences in recent years. Reports indicate that drones have repeatedly flown over military facilities, maritime bases, and harbors in northern and eastern Germany. The wingspan of one drone recorded in this period reached up to five meters.
The German military and police have struggled to capture or disable the spy drones or apprehend their pilots, adding to the concerns surrounding drone security. As a response, authorities have ramped up surveillance measures, increased cooperation among European countries and NATO, and considered the implementation of anti-drone systems.
In August 2024, suspected Russia-linked drones returned after a period of reduced activity in 2023. Seven out of nine incidents between August 2024 and February 2025 occurred in northwestern Europe, with several near the North Sea. Other significant events include a drone that entered 3 kilometers of a critical nuclear facility in the Chernobyl region, as well as a drone sighting 50 meters from Equinor's Heidrun platform in the North Sea.
The drones involved in these incidents have been diverse, ranging from advanced military-grade models to commercial drones. Authorities have responded with a mix of surveillance, legal action, airspace management, and technical countermeasures to protect sensitive sites. The exact nature of the drones observed during the incident involving the federal police ship remains unclear.
Sources: ntv.de, jpe/AFP
Political cooperation among European countries and NATO has become more crucial as the North Sea region grapples with recurring drone incidents, notably involving drones potentially linked to Russia. The common foreign and security policy of Europe should address the rising concern of cybersecurity, particularly in the realm of technology and politics, as exemplified by the growing use of drones in general-news events.
