U.S. Intelligence Warned Of Russian Drone Attacks On Three European Countries
- 24.09.2026, 7:37
The CIA shared the information with European governments.
U.S. intelligence has shared information with European governments about a possible new Russian operation involving drones. Spain, France, and Italy are cited as potential targets, and according to sources, the drones could be launched from merchant ships in the Mediterranean Sea, reports El Mundo.
Russia may use “Gerbera” drones for such an operation. They can be transported on merchant ships in containers and then launched from the sea.
A source close to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense stated that these are drones “hidden in a shipping container and launched from the sea,”
“It’s not complicated at all,” the source noted.
The “Gerbera” is about two meters long, has a wingspan of approximately 2.5 meters, and can weigh up to 18 kilograms. Its claimed maximum flight range is up to 600 kilometers, although the actual range depends, in particular, on the payload and weather conditions.
According to sources, a launch from a distance of 200–300 kilometers off the coast can provide a flight duration of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours.
However, this drone is not designed to cause large-scale destruction of major facilities. With an explosive payload of about 4–5 kilograms, it can start a fire, damage exposed equipment, or temporarily paralyze the operations of a port or airport.
The CIA shared the information with European governments
According to sources, European countries received information about a possible operation following a mysterious trip by CIA Director John Retcliffe to Moscow on August 25. According to reports by the Wall Street Journal and Politico, Retcliffe traveled to Russia to warn Moscow of the consequences of a possible attack or provocation against NATO.
The governments of Spain, France, and Italy were also informed of a possible operation involving drones against one of these countries.
Several defense analysts confirmed that they were aware of the CIA report, which was circulated among European foreign ministries. According to them, the document contained a detailed description of a possible attack.
Why Southern Europe Is Mentioned Among Potential Targets
The article notes that Russia has long stated its readiness to consider Western countries as participants in the war due to their supply of weapons, intelligence, and military aid to Ukraine.
At the same time, as noted in the text, Moscow has so far avoided actions that could provoke a coordinated NATO response, although it has simultaneously intensified its campaign of sabotage and other operations in countries supporting Ukraine.
Spain, France, and Italy are now cited as possible targets. All three countries are scheduled to hold election campaigns and elections in 2027.
British analyst Keir Giles, who specializes in Russian military strategy, noted that geographical distance from Russia does not guarantee security:
“The targets will not necessarily be countries on the front lines. The target will be wherever Europe’s weakest point lies,”
According to him, countries lacking sufficiently integrated air and missile defense systems could become potential vulnerabilities.
“Gerbera” could become a tool for sabotage
The expected goal of such an operation, according to the analyst, may not be the large-scale destruction of infrastructure, but rather a demonstration of Russia’s ability to strike deep within European territory.
Possible scenarios include the temporary closure of an airport, arson, a flight over a military base, or damage to infrastructure facilities.
“Russia is looking for places where any action will have the greatest impact due to a lack of resilience, civil defense, and political instability,” Giles explained.
The idea of launching “Gerberas” from the sea has been considered before. A year ago, the Ukrainian publication Defense Express wrote about the possibility of transporting such drones on ships and launching them from international waters.
The article also mentions previous Russian experiments involving the launch of drones from ships. In 2020, the Russian manufacturer ZALA conducted demonstration launches from a moving vessel, and in October 2024, similar experiments were resumed from a maritime platform.
Russian drones have already been spotted near EU borders
In February, a Swedish naval unit detected a drone that, according to available information, took off from the Russian radio-reconnaissance vessel “Zhigulevsk” in the Øresund Strait. Sweden jammed the drone and classified the flight as a violation of its airspace.
On September 14, a Russian warship also fired two warning shots at a Danish military helicopter that was conducting a routine surveillance mission in international waters of the Baltic Sea.
The text also mentions “Gerbera-2,” which was recently discovered off the Polish coast. According to the data provided, the drone was equipped with a fragmentation warhead containing a detonator and approximately four kilograms of explosives. It appears that this drone arrived from Kaliningrad via Lithuania rather than having been launched from the sea.
Russia may be seeking to undermine support for Ukraine
According to sources, the intensification of Russian sabotage activities has several possible objectives: to weaken support for Ukraine, sow discord within NATO, and heighten anxiety among the European public.
Poland is also receiving similar intelligence. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned of possible attacks by Russian drones or missiles against countries supporting Ukraine.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated:
“Russia will not hide. We simply must avoid the consequences.”