Russia uses drones over Europe to intimidate - Zelenskyy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Russia is trying to intimidate European countries by launching large numbers of drones over EU territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, according to Bloomberg.
According to Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a targeted campaign to intimidate Europe with recent incursions of drones and fighter jets into NATO airspace.
"I think he scared them; that was his goal, and he achieved it. It was psychological intimidation, without a doubt," the Ukrainian president said.
He also added that such actions by Russia have made EU leaders less willing to send new air defense systems to Ukraine.
Drones in Europe
Recently, a growing number of unidentified drones have been recorded over critical infrastructure and defense facilities in several European countries — including Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands.
For instance, during the night of November 11–12, an unidentified drone flew over the Mulhouse railway station, where a train carrying Leclerc tanks was located.
The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2025, Germany experienced a sharp increase in incidents involving unauthorized drone use, with more than a thousand cases recorded since the start of the year. The investigation is ongoing, but authorities do not rule out the possibility of a Russian connection.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine announced plans to open defense production offices in Berlin and Copenhagen by the end of the year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that these cities were chosen due to close cooperation with Denmark and Germany on joint weapons production.
Earlier, Ukraine also stated its readiness to help partners manufacture drones, using its own combat experience.
