Swedish forces disrupt a drone launched from a Russian ship close to a visiting French plane provider in Swedish waters.
Printed On 28 Feb 2026
Sweden’s navy has confirmed {that a} drone disabled close to a visiting French plane provider this week was Russian, prompting France to sentence what it described as a “ridiculous provocation” by Moscow.
The incident passed off within the Oresund strait between Sweden and Denmark, as France’s flagship Charles de Gaulle plane provider was on a go to to the area.
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“Through the go to of the French plane provider Charles de Gaulle, one of many Swedish Armed Forces’ vessels noticed a drone taking off from a Russian indicators intelligence ship,” the Swedish navy mentioned in a press release on Friday.
“The Swedish Armed Forces can now affirm {that a} Russian drone has carried out an unauthorised flight,” it added.
Sweden’s Defence Minister Pal Jonson mentioned “technical knowledge” confirmed the origins of the drone as being the Russian vessel “Zhigulevsk”, noting additionally that the incident “constitutes a breach of Sweden’s entry laws and a violation of Swedish airspace”.
“The Swedish Armed Forces responded firmly and professionally with countermeasures that disrupted the drone,” Jonson mentioned.
In accordance with the AFP information company, a Swedish navy vessel, HMS Rapp, used technical tools to disable the drone about 13km (eight miles) from the French provider.
Swedish forces took motion when the Russian drone was deemed to be flying with out authorisation.
Sweden mentioned the Russian ship didn’t adjust to laws governing transit by means of Swedish waters and HMS Rapp later escorted the vessel out of Swedish maritime territory into the Baltic Sea.
The French provider and its escort ships had docked in Malmo on Wednesday for a go to by the vessel to the Swedish port earlier than collaborating in NATO workout routines.
Talking on board the Charles de Gaulle on Friday, French Overseas Minister Jean-Noel Barrot mentioned that if Russian involvement was confirmed, “the one conclusion I’d draw is that it will be a ridiculous provocation”.
“The drone was neutralised away from the Charles de Gaulle plane provider and on no account was the safety of the plane provider and its group threatened,” he mentioned.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned an investigation had been launched and prompt the timing was unlikely to be unintentional.
“It’s a Russian approach of appearing that we recognise from different locations,” he mentioned.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegation, calling it “fairly an absurd assertion”.
The Baltic Sea area has turn out to be an space of mounting rigidity between Russia and NATO international locations.
A number of members of the NATO alliance – bordering and close to to Russia – have reported a surge in drone sightings which have brought about disruptions in latest months, with some attributing them to Moscow.
