Mysterious Drone Appears In Bavarian Military Area, Germany Investigates Alleged Russian Espionage

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Maheshkumar Painam

JAKARTA - German police are investigating alleged cases of Russian espionage after drones were spotted in several military areas in Bavaria.

With Russia's background in Ukraine, it cannot be ruled out that German military installations and defense firms are spying on by drones, the Bavaria State Criminal Investigation Office said.

As reported by Reuters on Monday, January 13, the latest incident occurred on Sunday evening when a drone was spotted at a military base near Manching.

Drones were seen at a base near Manching for three days in December, the statement said.

Another illegal drone flight occurred in the same month above a military installation in Neuburg an der Donau.

German federal police, the Bundeskriminalamt, warned companies in December that there may have been Russian sabotage among their employees and contractors. Russia denies the allegations.

Investigators pointed to a series of unauthorized drone flights in a number of locations including military facilities, LNG terminals and oil, seaports, and logistics companies as examples of alleged sabotage by Russian state actors in recent months.

Germany's head of foreign intelligence service, Bruno Kahl, said last month Russia's acts of sabotage against Western targets could ultimately encourage NATO to consider implementing Article 5 of the joint defense clause within the alliance.

Based on the article, if one of NATO members is attacked, members of the other alliance are obliged to help the country in response.