German police have launched an investigation into alleged cases of Russian espionage after drones were spotted over several military installations in Bavaria, according to a statement released on Monday.
In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, it cannot be ruled out that German military bases and defense companies are being spied on by unmanned aerial vehicles, said the Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation.
The latest incident occurred late Sunday when a drone was observed over a military base near Manching, police said, referring to a large facility where German forces test new manned and unmanned aircraft.
Drones were spotted over the base near Manching on three days in December, the statement noted. Another unauthorized flyover occurred the same month above a military facility in Neuburg on the Danube.
Germany’s federal police agency, the Bundeskriminalamt, warned companies in December that Russian saboteurs could be among their employees and contractors.
Russia has dismissed such accusations.
Investigators pointed to a series of unauthorized drone flights at locations including military facilities, LNG and oil terminals, seaports, and logistics companies as examples suspected of being acts of sabotage by Russian state actors in recent months.
The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, Bruno Kahl, stated last month that Russian sabotage against Western targets could eventually lead NATO to consider invoking the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defense clause.
Under Article 5, if a NATO member is attacked, other members of the alliance are obligated to assist in the response.
