CIA warned Europe of Russian plot to launch drones from Mediterranean vessels: report
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According to a report by Spanish daily El Mundo, the CIA has warned European countries of a suspected Russian plot to launch Gerbera-type explosive drones from commercial vessels in the Mediterranean. The report, based on an anonymous Lithuanian intelligence source, states that Spain, France, or Italy may be targets, with drones launching from international waters and traveling to coastal countries over one to two hours. The Gerbera drone, with a 2.5-meter wingspan and 600-kilometer range, can be concealed in shipping containers and catapult-launched. The warning reportedly followed a secret CIA director visit to Moscow on August 25. A key CIA report was rumored to be circulating in mid-September, coinciding with French President Macron convening the Defense Council. The El Mundo report has not been independently corroborated. The perceived threat of Russian kinetic action has increased across Europe due to heightened sabotage and hybrid warfare, including airspace violations and a drone attack attributed to Russia at Leipzig airport. A pro-Russian Telegram channel also suggested supplying Algeria with drones to strike French targets.
Source report
VIENNA — The CIA has warned European countries of a suspected Russian plot to launch Gerbera-type drones from aboard commercial vessels in the Mediterranean, according to a new report.
Key Details
Major Spanish daily El Mundo published the article late Wednesday local time, based on testimony from an anonymous Lithuanian intelligence source. The report has not been independently corroborated.
According to the paper, the CIA assessed that Spain, France, or Italy may be the targets of these attacks. Drones would launch from international waters in the Mediterranean and travel to coastal countries over the course of one to two hours.
Drone Specifications
- Type: Gerbera drone
- Wingspan: 2.5 meters (allowing easy concealment)
- Maximum range: 600 kilometers, depending on load and environmental conditions
- Warhead: Relatively small, effective at starting fires, destroying exposed infrastructure components, or causing political and economic turmoil
Method of Attack
The drones were to be transported hidden in containers — described as "not difficult at all" — before being catapult-launched for attack missions on Western Mediterranean NATO members, according to El Mundo's sourcing.
Timeline and Intelligence Sharing
- Aug. 25: The CIA director made an unannounced and secretive visit to Moscow aboard a U.S. military plane. Lithuania and other European countries were reportedly made aware of the threat shortly after.
- Mid-September: A key CIA report was rumored to be circulating in European leadership circles, coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to convene the Defense Council on Sept. 16 and summon all party leaders and 2027 presidential candidates to the Élysée Palace two days later.
Broader Context of Russian Activity
The perceived threat of Russian kinetic action has increased significantly across European capitals this year due to heightened sabotage and hybrid warfare activity generally attributed to Moscow.
- Airspace violations by Russian drones along NATO's eastern flank have become increasingly commonplace, leading to several instances of alliance fighter jets shooting down intruding unmanned aerial vehicles.
- A year ago, 19 unarmed Russian drones entered Polish airspace — the largest airspace violation to date — widely assessed as a deliberate provocation and test of NATO's response.
- The prospect of launching from Russian merchant ships has long been suspected in European policy circles, with coastal sightings of unidentified UAVs sometimes coinciding with the presence of Russian "shadow fleet" ships.
- February 2026: A Swedish Navy vessel detected and jammed a drone taking off from a Russian intelligence ship in the Öresund Strait, coinciding with a visit of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to Sweden.
- Early August: An explosive-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft, and a separate plane collided with a drone mid-air at Germany's Leipzig airport. After a month-long investigation, German authorities officially attributed the attack to Russia.
- Sept. 19: The pro-Russian Telegram channel Rybar published a map titled "Russian medicine against French arrogance," suggesting supplying Algeria with Geran-5 drones to strike French aeronautical factories, military bases, nuclear plants, and petrochemical sites, El Mundo reported.
European Preparedness
Even non-NATO, landlocked European countries are taking note. The Austrian military has launched a "large exercise" to practice counter-drone measures and air defense, Austrian public media reported on Thursday. The drill will involve 300 soldiers across several townships in eastern Austria, using Mistral ground-to-air missiles, 35-millimeter cannons, and electronic warfare measures.
About the Author
Linus Höller is Defense News' Europe correspondent and OSINT investigator. He reports on arms deals, sanctions, and geopolitics shaping Europe and the world. He holds master's degrees in WMD nonproliferation, terrorism studies, and international relations, and works in four languages: English, German, Russian, and Spanish.
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CIA Warns Europe of Russian Plot to Launch Gerbera Drones from Mediterranean Vessels