Drone incidents near UK military sites rise sharply: Media

British military installations were hit by over 300 drone incidents over a year, according to new figures released by UK media. The Independent reported 340 security breaches involving drones near or over defense sites between 2025 and August 2026. This marked a significant increase from 250 incidents in the previous year and 126 in the year before that.

The British Ministry of Defence did not specify who was responsible for the drone activity. However, the rise in incidents comes as European nations express concerns over growing suspected Russian hybrid operations targeting their territories. In response, Germany has accused Russia of a drone incident at an airport and retaliated with sanctions.

Louise Sandher-Jones, the UK's armed forces minister, emphasized that the government is treating the threat of hostile drones to defense installations with the utmost seriousness. The government cited the establishment of restricted airspace zones around 44 strategic military sites, effective in February, as a contributing factor to the increased monitoring and reporting of drone activity.

The UK and its allies remain on high alert against potential threats, with a ministry spokesperson stating that the government is resolute in opposing any aggression towards the UK and its allies. The figures were released just a day after Russia summoned the UK's charge d'affaires, alleging an escalation in arms supplies to Ukraine.

Russia warned that British military facilities in Ukraine, should they be used to launch strikes on Russian territory, would be deemed legitimate targets.