In early May 2025, German federal police observed the Russian-crewed cargo ship 'HAV Dolphin' anchored unusually long (over eight days) in Kiel Bay near a major German naval base after a maintenance period in Kaliningrad. Following reports of drones near the naval base, German and Dutch authorities inspected the vessel twice but found no drones or sabotage equipment onboard. The 'Dolphin' crew are all Russian nationals, but officials did not find direct evidence of espionage activities. Meanwhile, security agencies across Europe reported nearly 100 suspicious drone sightings along German coastlines in 2025, believed to be launched from civilian vessels comprising Russia's shadow fleet, including tankers and fishing ships. A notable incident in mid-May involved seven drones shadowing a German federal police ship monitoring a Russian tanker 140 km off Borkum for nearly three hours. Experts highlight the difficulty in detecting drone launch systems hidden within ships. Regional authorities have intensified controls on suspicious vessels in Germany, Finland, Netherlands, and Denmark, suspecting sabotage and drone operations. The search for ships launching espionage drones continues, reflecting the complex hybrid threat posed by Russia in maritime domains near NATO countries.

In early May 2025, German federal police observed the Russian-crewed cargo ship 'HAV Dolphin' anchored unusually long (over eight days) in Kiel Bay near a major German naval base after a maintenance period in Kaliningrad. Following reports of drones near the naval base, German and Dutch authorities inspected the vessel twice but found no drones or sabotage equipment onboard. The 'Dolphin' crew are all Russian nationals, but officials did not find direct evidence of espionage activities. Meanwhile, security agencies across Europe reported nearly 100 suspicious drone sightings along German coastlines in 2025, believed to be launched from civilian vessels comprising Russia's shadow fleet, including tankers and fishing ships. A notable incident in mid-May involved seven drones shadowing a German federal police ship monitoring a Russian tanker 140 km off Borkum for nearly three hours. Experts highlight the difficulty in detecting drone launch systems hidden within ships. Regional authorities have intensified controls on suspicious vessels in Germany, Finland, Netherlands, and Denmark, suspecting sabotage and drone operations. The search for ships launching espionage drones continues, reflecting the complex hybrid threat posed by Russia in maritime domains near NATO countries.