A Bundespolizee patrol ship on the North Sea was allegedly targeted by Russian drones, according to a confidential report obtained by the German news magazine, Spiegel. The incident occurred on May 17, at around midnight, when the ship, BP 81 Potsdam, was monitoring the Russian freighter, Lauga, approximately 140 kilometers north of the German island of Borkum, en route to Belgium.
The Bundespolizee officers reported seven drones, which for nearly three hours, tracked the freighter as well as the patrol ship. The officers noted green and red position lights, but could not identify the type of drone or determine if it was launched from the Russian freighter, as no such technology was available on board.
Nighttime photography was not possible due to the available equipment, the report stated. The Bundespolizee subsequently requested Belgian authorities to inspect the freighter upon arrival at its destination, but no signs of drones were found on board.
This incident is part of a growing trend of drone sightings over critical infrastructure, military bases and chemical parks in northern and eastern Germany, as reported by security agencies.
Between February 27 and March 7, almost daily, unmanned objects were spotted over naval bases, harbors and chemical parks in the region, with a drone’s wingspan reportedly reaching up to five meters, according to the authorities. Despite efforts by the German military and police, it is rare for an unmanned drone to be destroyed or its pilot apprehended.