Germany launches investigation into flights of unidentified UAVs over military facilities

The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA) is investigating a series of incidents involving drones that were spotted over Bundeswehr facilities in Mänching and Neuburg an der Donau.

As reported by the Augsburger Allgemeine, the incidents raise suspicions of possible espionage related to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The first incident occurred on December 15, when at around 7:00 p.m., police received a report of drones flying over the military security zone in Manching. Police officers who arrived at the scene recorded up to ten drones. Despite the use of a helicopter for the search, it was not possible to identify the person or persons involved in launching the drones.

Similar incidents were repeated for several days:

• On December 16, several drones were again recorded over the airfield in Manhing.

• On December 18, drones were observed over the military security zone in Manhing around 18:30.

• The next morning, December 19, three drones were flying over Neuburg again.

• On Christmas Day, December 25, at around 2:00 a.m., a drone was spotted in Manching.

The police conducted a large-scale search efforts, but the pilots could not be identified. LKA expressed suspicion that the flights may be related to attempts to spy on military facilities, in particular in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. Law enforcement officers are currently appealing to eyewitnesses to provide any information that may help the investigation.