The newspaper “The Independent” writes that in the 12 months up to August 2026, over the UK’s defense facilities or near them, 340 security incidents related to drones were recorded.
In 2025, there were 250 such incidents, and in previous years – 126.
The UK Ministry of Defence did not disclose who is responsible for these drone flights, but it is reported to European countries warning about an increased number of suspected Russian hybrid operations on their territories.
In a statement to the news agency AFP, the Minister of Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones said that the government “takes the threat posed by hostile drones to defense facilities very seriously.”
According to her, this increase in drone incidents partly reflects better monitoring and reporting after restricted airspace zones were created over 44 strategic military sites in February.
“The UK and its allies remain vigilant about potential threats, and adversaries should have no doubt about this government’s resolve to resist aggression against the UK and our allies,” added a ministry spokesperson.
These figures were published a day after Russia summoned the UK’s chargé d’affaires over what Moscow called “escalation” in supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Russia warned that any UK military facilities in Ukraine used for strikes on Russian territory will be considered “legitimate targets.”
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