A tanker from the "secret fleet" is lurking; this is a clear message from Russia: NATO in panic

Europe is on high alert. Mysterious drones are flying over nuclear power plants, military bases, and airports, causing chaos and triggering security alarms. Belgium is the latest target in a series of incidents that intelligence officials and defense ministers say bear a clear Russian signature—a hybrid warfare campaign aimed at deterring Western support for Ukraine. Five drones were spotted over the Doel nuclear power plant near Antwerp.

“At first, we detected three, but then there were five. They flew for about an hour,” said a spokesperson for Engie, the plant’s operator. Although there was no security threat, the plant is designed to withstand the crash of a passenger plane such as a Boeing 737. Liège Airport, a key logistics hub for cargo to Ukraine, was forced to suspend operations following multiple drone sightings. The Belgian government now expects the deployment of British, French, and German anti-drone units, particularly around the Kleine Brogel military base, home to the new F-35 fighter jets.

“Russia is the obvious likely suspect,” said Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken. His German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, was even more explicit: “This is a message: ‘Do not touch frozen Russian assets.’ Belgium is currently deciding on the transfer of €140 billion for Ukraine’s defense. We all see the connection,” reports The Telegraph.

The pattern is repeating. At the end of September, shortly before the announcement of the sale of 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, drones were spotted over Malmö, Lund, and the Karlskrona naval base. On November 6, Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport was closed for several hours, and dozens of flights were canceled or diverted. “The timing of these incidents is no coincidence,” says Justin Kramp, director of the intelligence firm Sibilina. “This is a sophisticated operation with minimal risk and maximum disruption,” he added.

Royal Navy / SWNS / SWNS / Profimedia

The Telegraph, using ship-tracking data, linked a series of incidents involving a tanker from Russia’s “shadow fleet.” On September 22, the vessel was 90 kilometers from Copenhagen when the airport suspended operations. Over the next three days, as it sailed along the Danish coast, four more airports were closed. Drones were also spotted over the Skridstrup and Karup military bases. At the time, Denmark was in the process of amending legislation to allow a Ukrainian arms manufacturer to build a rocket fuel plant on its territory.

The Baltic country, on the frontline between NATO and Russia, has gone a step further. Estonian forces shot down a drone over the Rido military base, home to U.S. troops, on October 17. No debris was found. In Oslo on September 22, the airport experienced the same problems as Copenhagen—nearby, the Russian tanker was present. Norwegian authorities suspended the investigation due to a “lack of evidence,” but British anti-drone equipment was deployed after 39 drone sightings in a single month. Germany has been recording similar incidents for years. This fall, drones were seen over Kiel, Munich, Erding, Geilenkirchen (a NATO base), and Berlin-Brandenburg. Russian “shadow” ships tracked the North Sea coast.

Although there is no conclusive proof, Moscow is likely using criminal networks for these operations, and intelligence circles agree: this is a Russian campaign.

“It is no coincidence that this is happening now, as Europe decides on billions for Ukraine,” says Justin Kramp. “This is an escalation of hybrid warfare—cheap, effective, and hard to prove,” he added.

NATO and the EU are facing a new challenge: how to defend airspace from an invisible enemy that doesn’t fire weapons but paralyzes operations. Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Germany are all targets. And the next decision to aid Kyiv could bring even more drones.