Throughout 2025, Russian or affiliated actors have flown surveillance drones over military logistics routes in eastern Germany, primarily in the state of Thuringia, gathering intelligence on arms shipments for Ukraine. The intelligence aims to assist Russian sabotage campaigns and battlefield operations, despite a decline in sabotage incidents due to increased European security and diplomatic efforts. Some drones are believed to be Iranian-made and launched from Baltic Sea vessels. German authorities have developed drone interception techniques but acknowledge they cannot fully prevent such flights. German prosecutors arrested three Ukrainians linked to a Russian-backed plot targeting logistics infrastructure, further evidencing ongoing covert threats. Russia denies these claims, dismissing them as fabrications.

Throughout 2025, Russian or affiliated actors have flown surveillance drones over military logistics routes in eastern Germany, primarily in the state of Thuringia, gathering intelligence on arms shipments for Ukraine. The intelligence aims to assist Russian sabotage campaigns and battlefield operations, despite a decline in sabotage incidents due to increased European security and diplomatic efforts. Some drones are believed to be Iranian-made and launched from Baltic Sea vessels. German authorities have developed drone interception techniques but acknowledge they cannot fully prevent such flights. German prosecutors arrested three Ukrainians linked to a Russian-backed plot targeting logistics infrastructure, further evidencing ongoing covert threats. Russia denies these claims, dismissing them as fabrications.