Russia ‘flies multiple drones including military UAV’ over German nuclear power plant after being ‘launched from the North Sea’

Russia is suspected of flying multiple drones, including military UAVs, over a nuclear power plant in Germany, state security officials said.

Germany has been one of the most outspoken critics of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing or pledging a total of €28bn (£23.77bn) in funding or direct delivery of weapons.

Now it appears that Russia is monitoring Germany as a potential target for sabotage, intelligence officials told Bild.

Sources told the newspaper that a flying object was detected last night over the industrial area in Brunsbütte, on Germany’s northern coast.

Drones have been flying over the area, which is home to a nuclear power plant, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and several chemical plants, since at least August 8. The drones are believed to be launched by Russian agents from civilian vessels in the North Sea.

Last night a flying object was detected over the industrial area in Brunsbütte, on the northern coast of Germany (photo)

State security officials from the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Investigation Office told the newspaper that they are convinced that the drones they have not yet captured are unmanned Orlan-10 drones (pictured)

Germany has been one of the most outspoken critics of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine (pictured)

State security officials from the Schleswig-Holstein Criminal Investigation Department told the newspaper that they are convinced that the drones they have not yet been able to catch are unmanned Orlan-10 drones, which can travel a distance of 600 kilometers at a speed of more than 145 kilometers per hour.

The drones are used all over the world, but are most notable in Syria during the civil war, where they have been used for reconnaissance, aerial photography and 3D mapping in support of humanitarian convoys and search and rescue operations.

Police officers in Lower Saxony and Hamburg are now alert to future drone activity.

Putin today held a meeting with senior officials to discuss the situation in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, after Ukrainian troops carried out a surprise raid in the Kursk region on August 6.

Ukraine’s lightning-fast invasion of Kursk, the largest incursion into Russia by a foreign power since World War II, saw thousands of Ukrainian troops cross Russia’s western border, apparently catching Moscow by surprise.

View of smoke rising from buildings reportedly hit by Ukrainian forces, during their ongoing raid, in Glushkovo, Kursk region, Russia

A destroyed Russian tank stands on the side of the road near the town of Sudzha, Russia, in the Kursk region, on August 16, 2024

A Ukrainian soldier patrols an area in the Ukrainian army-controlled town of Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia

Since then, heavy fighting has been raging as Russian troops attempt to push out Ukrainian soldiers, who want to consolidate and expand the territory they control.

“I have summoned you to discuss the situation currently developing in Russia’s border regions,” Putin said at the opening of the meeting.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said Russia was assessing the damage to agriculture and industry in the border regions.

Kursk Acting Governor Alexei Smirnov said 133,190 people had left or evacuated his region. Putin asked Smirnov if cooperation with law enforcement and military agencies was working. Smirnov said it was.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz told Putin that border guards had repelled an attempt by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance team to enter the region.