According to an International Institute for Strategic Studies report, Russia's shadow fleet has orchestrated a widespread drone campaign across Europe, deploying 144 suspected unmanned aircraft near sensitive military installations in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The drones serve dual purposes: gathering intelligence on NATO military infrastructure and systematically evaluating the effectiveness of allied air-defence systems.

The discovery has prompted NATO members to prioritise the threat during an upcoming summit in Turkey, where drone warfare and Russia's evaluation of alliance defences will dominate discussions. The campaign reflects Russia's systematic approach to assessing NATO's vulnerabilities and readiness, intensifying concerns among allied nations about evolving military threats in the European theatre.