Russia aims to achieve three objectives through drone operations – and wants to distract attention from something.
Colonel Markus Reisner, a senior officer in the Austrian General Staff and head of the Officer Training Institute at the Theresian Military Academy, believes that the recent jamming maneuvers with drones are concerning but not new. Such interventions have occurred before – even during the Cold War – but have significantly increased with the Ukraine war and in recent weeks have reached parts of Northern Europe.
According to Markus Reissner, Russia has three clear objectives from these operations: to create a state of uncertainty among the peoples of Europe, to test NATO's response capabilities, and to occupy Western air defenses across the continent. He adds that the excessive focus on drone incidents diverts public discussion from Russia's broader failures on the Ukrainian front, where its summer offensives have almost halted while Ukraine is launching increasingly effective counterattacks.
Historically, some of these provocative air operations ended with the downing of aircraft that entered hostile airspace – one of the most notable examples being the incident involving pilot Francis Powers in 1960 – but none of them led to the outbreak of a world war. Today, modern surveillance technologies and the proliferation of drones make these incidents more politically and media-visible, but Markus Reisner emphasizes the need to maintain calm: Europe must not be drawn into panic, as that is exactly what Moscow seeks.
Regarding how to respond, Markus Reisner supports steps that demonstrate seriousness – such as the proposal by politician Roderick Kiesewetter to declare a "NATO tension" state, which would initiate a discussion and prove that the alliance is not a bystander. He points out that diplomatic pressure and sanctions have not changed Moscow's approach; rather, clear military pressure and unity among Europe and NATO are the way to deter further provocations.
Internally, there is a discussion about building new defensive capabilities and who will lead them. Markus Reisner points out that many European countries have reduced their forces after the Cold War, and sending weapons to Ukraine has further depleted available resources. Therefore, he believes that the time is right to strengthen national defenses, including specialized centers for defense against drones, while clarifying the legal and operational boundaries between the police (internal security) and the armed forces (external defense).
As for the downing of drones, Markus Reisner warns that it should remain a last resort – especially over populated areas where it may endanger civilians. There are modern alternatives depending on the type of drone, and NATO interceptor aircraft can use non-lethal methods such as show-of-force maneuvers or warning shots when breaching airspace. He emphasizes that resorting to lethal force should only occur when the offensive intent is unequivocally clear.