Germany’s Federal Criminal Office (BKA) has documented a rapidly escalating threat landscape characterized by a four-digit number of suspected drone flights over the country by mid-December 2025, according to an internal risk assessment report. BKA President Holger Münch, in comments to Bild newspaper, described the situation as presenting a “pronounced danger” highlighting an increasing trend of suspicious activity.
The BKA has been actively compiling a risk map since the beginning of the year, incorporating data from suspected incidents and collaborating with the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). Currently, over 1,000 such incidents have been reported this year alone. Critical infrastructure, including military installations, airports, arms manufacturers and port facilities, are disproportionately affected.
While the BKA cannot definitively attribute these flights to Russian actors, Münch acknowledged the possibility of state-sponsored operations designed to sow public distrust and generate anxiety. “In the case of an obvious state operation, there is an incredibly high number of new reports and a high level of public unease afterward” he stated. The difficulty in identifying and interrogating drone operators complicates the investigative process.
Beyond disruption, the BKA suspects another objective: intelligence gathering. While acknowledging the availability of satellite reconnaissance, Münch pointed out their limitations. A particularly concerning scenario involves facilities where Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing training; drones could potentially detect and catalogue smartphones present on site, later enabling identification of individual soldiers on the front lines. This capability raises serious concerns regarding the potential compromise of sensitive information and personnel security, prompting questions about the scope of surveillance currently underway and the adequacy of countermeasures. The BKA’s assessment underscores a need for enhanced drone detection and identification capabilities, alongside a broader strategic review of infrastructure vulnerability and potential hybrid warfare tactics targeting German security and stability.