More than 500 Russian aircraft spotted in Germany: Why can't the air defense shoot them down?
Russian reconnaissance aircraft are flying over eastern Germany to monitor arms shipments heading to Ukraine, with Western intelligence recording more than 530 sightings during the first three months of this year. These aircraft are tracking changing military transport routes to determine the types of weapons being shipped, their destination, and when new supplies will arrive at the front.
Three Western intelligence agencies confirmed that "Russian entities regularly send reconnaissance aircraft" over German territory. A spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense told "Euronews" that the responsibility of the Bundeswehr is limited to protecting its military sites only, while the responsibility for protecting broader infrastructure falls on the Ministry of the Interior and civilian operators such as railway companies and energy facilities.
The difficulty lies in how Germany deals with these aircraft. In military sites, forces must adhere to the principle of proportionality, meaning avoiding any risks that could affect civilians. This makes it difficult to shoot down drones, especially when it is unknown whether they are loaded with explosives. Despite the use of jamming devices, many drones remain in the air, increasing fears of espionage or sabotage.
According to reports from the Bild newspaper, aircraft have repeatedly appeared over Bundeswehr bases such as the Wilhelmshaven naval base, LNG terminals, and railway lines. Between January 9 and 29 alone, six drones were spotted over the Schleswig airbase in Schleswig-Holstein, where Ukrainian soldiers are training on the Patriot air defense systems. Authorities suspect that this activity was a deliberate espionage operation.
The case has been referred to the criminal police office in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which acknowledged that critical infrastructure in Germany could be a target for espionage or sabotage. Authorities confirmed they are prepared for various scenarios, noting the establishment of a specialized unit to combat espionage and sabotage within the State Security Department. However, due to the "sensitivity of the investigation," authorities announced that no further information would be disclosed "currently or in the future."