According to a representative of the German Interior Ministry, unknown drones in the country's airspace are likely linked to Russia.
In December 2024, a massive raid of drones was recorded over the territory of the Rhineland-Palatinate state in Germany. Bild reports this, citing its sources.
It is reported that violations of German airspace by drones have become more frequent recently. According to journalists, the raid in Rhineland-Palatinate probably affected military facilities.
A representative of the German Interior Ministry told the publication that in Rhineland-Palatinate alone, in 2024, the police received “about 100 reports” about unknown drones.
“The use of large drones for spying on security-related objects is increasing noticeably in Germany. They are probably part of Russia's hybrid war,” — the department said.
As noted in the publication, the Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Ministry criticized the German federal government for inaction. According to insiders, none of these drones were intercepted or shot down. UAVs over airports and military facilities of the Bundeswehr and the US Army in Germany are of particular concern.
According to the Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Ministry, in 2024, about 30 cases of “drone sightings” near US facilities were recorded. Insiders claim that these are devices the size of a car. According to the ministry's statement, the range of such large UAVs can exceed 188 kilometers.