Sweden confirmed Friday that Russia violated its airspace when a drone launched from a Russian intelligence vessel approached a French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier during NATO exercises. The incident marks the latest escalation in Moscow’s campaign of electronic provocations across Europe.
Swedish naval forces jammed the drone February 25 after detecting it launching from Russian signals intelligence vessel Zhigulevsk in the Öresund Strait. Technical data confirmed the drone launched from the Russian vessel and flew approximately seven nautical miles toward the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, docked in Malmö as part of NATO’s Mission Lafayette 26 deployment. Contact with the drone was lost after Swedish countermeasures disrupted its navigation.
Swedish Navy ship HMS Rapp deployed electronic warfare systems to neutralize the threat. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson called the airspace violation “serious and irresponsible.” Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum said Swedish forces responded correctly to ensure security.
French military spokesman Guillaume Vernet said Swedish countermeasures “worked perfectly” with “no operational impact” on carrier operations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot dismissed the incident as “a ridiculous provocation.” The carrier’s security was never threatened.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Swedish claims “quite absurd.” He said proximity of the Russian ship doesn’t prove the drone’s origin.
The Russian vessel violated transit regulations for the Öresund Strait before Swedish forces escorted it to the Baltic Sea. Sweden’s Access Ordinance requires foreign military aircraft and vessels to obtain permission before entering Swedish waters and airspace. Moscow ignored both requirements.
The incident fits a documented pattern of Russian disruption operations targeting NATO infrastructure. An Associated Press database has tracked over 100 such incidents across Europe. The campaign began with Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.
The carrier visit represented the first time France’s carrier battle group visited Sweden since the country abandoned 200 years of neutrality to join NATO. The drone intercept exposed Russia’s willingness to test defenses at the alliance’s newest member.
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