Drones spotted over German base where Ukrainian troops are training on Patriot systems

According to an internal report first cited by Süddeutsche Zeitung, suspicious drones were spotted over a German base where Ukrainian troops are training, raising concerns about possible espionage.

Despite signal-jamming efforts, the German military was unable to down the drones or identify their operators.

Der Spiegel reports that the North Sea air base, designated a special security zone, is used to train both German troops on the Patriot system and Ukrainian air defense forces.

The Bundeswehr suspects Russian intelligence may be involved.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the German military has regularly detected unidentified drones near its bases.

Vehicles linked to the Russian Embassy in Berlin have also been spotted at Bundeswehr facilities.

The drone sightings over Schwezingen are particularly concerning, the report notes, as the Bundeswehr's countermeasures proved ineffective, raising questions about its ability to defend against UAV threats.

Between November 20 and 22, 2024, unidentified drones were also seen over three UK air bases.

In December, drones were reported over Germany’s Ramstein Air Base.

Similar incidents have been recorded in several U.S. states.

In January 2025, Danish police launched an investigation into reports of about 20 drones over the port of Køge, southwest of Copenhagen.