Swedish Forces Stop Russian Drone Near French Warship

Sweden's military intercepted what officials believe was a Russian drone while a French aircraft carrier was visiting a Swedish port. The incident occurred as part of what Western officials describe as Russia's ongoing campaign of disruption across Europe.

Swedish naval forces have disrupted a suspected Russian drone operating in waters off the country’s southern coast while a French aircraft carrier was making a port visit, military officials announced Thursday.

According to Sweden’s armed forces, a naval vessel spotted the suspicious drone during routine patrol operations in the Öresund strait, which separates Sweden and Denmark. Military officials confirmed they deployed unidentified countermeasures against the aircraft before losing contact with it.

The incident took place while France’s nuclear-powered carrier Charles de Gaulle was visiting Malmö as part of standard NATO training exercises. The Swedish port city sits along the Öresund waterway, directly across from Copenhagen, Denmark.

French military spokesman Guillaume Vernet confirmed to The Associated Press that Swedish forces detected the drone on Wednesday and handled the situation through an integrated security network protecting the carrier. Vernet noted Friday that the aircraft remained more than 6 miles away from the Charles de Gaulle.

“This system showed it is robust, and this event had no impact on the activity of the aircraft carrier battle group,” Vernet said.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told the public broadcaster SVT Thursday night that the apparent airspace breach occurred while a Russian naval vessel was operating in Swedish waters. When asked which nation he believed operated the drone, Jonson responded: “Probably Russia.”

Jonson explained that the Russian ship moved on into Baltic Sea waters, and Swedish officials maintained close coordination with Danish authorities throughout the incident. Military forces reported no additional drone sightings.

According to Western intelligence officials, Russia has been orchestrating a widespread campaign of sabotage and interference throughout Europe. An Associated Press investigation has recorded more than 100 such incidents.

Many incidents remain classified, and authorities sometimes require months to confirm Moscow’s involvement. Officials say this campaign, which began with President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine invasion in 2022, seeks to undermine support for Kyiv while also testing European vulnerabilities and straining law enforcement capabilities.