CIA Warns of Potential Russian Drone Strikes From Shadow Fleet Vessels

Spain’s El Mundo publication on Wednesday said that Russia may be preparing to launch drone strikes against Southern European countries from shadow fleet vessels passing through the Mediterranean. Citing a source close to Lithuania’s defense ministry, the report said the warning originated from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which has reportedly alerted European governments to the potential threat.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to El Mundo, such a move would fit into Russia’s broader campaign of “hybrid” operations against NATO members supporting Ukraine. Experts quoted by the outlet said Moscow has so far stopped short of actions that could trigger a direct military response from the alliance. They argue, however, that recent escalations suggest the Kremlin is pushing those boundaries. This has included increased numbers of drone incursions into Poland, Romania, and the Baltic nations, as well as the attempted use of armed drones at Leipzig Airport and the Wuntsorf airbase, both attributed to Russia. Russia’s weapon of choice According to the Lithuanian source cited by El Mundo, any such operation would likely target Spain, France, or Italy using Russia’s Gerbera drones. “Launched from the sea, hidden in shipping containers; it’s not difficult at all,” the source said. The report noted that the Gerbera’s compact size gives it an advantage over the larger and more complex Iranian-designed Shahed or Geran attack drones that are widely used by Russia against Ukraine. Other Topics of Interest ‘No Other Choice’: Zelensky Warns Russia of Winter Strikes Kyiv will retaliate against Russian energy facilities if Moscow continues attacking Ukraine’s power grid and heating systems. The Gerbera is around 2 meters (6.6 feet) long, has a 2.5-meter (8-feet) wingspan, weighs 18 kilograms (40 pounds), and holds a 5-kilogram (11-pound) warhead. It has a range between 300 kilometers (186 miles) and 600 kilometers (370 miles), depending on the fuel load and weather conditions, and can travel at speeds of up to 160 kph (100 mph). A Gerbera-2 drone carrying a 4-kilogram (8.8 pound) fragmentation warhead was recovered off Poland’s coast on Sept. 14. According to the report, the drone was most likely launched from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave rather than from a vessel at sea. El Mundo also cited British military analyst Keir Giles, who said such attacks could be aimed at disrupting airport operations, starting fires in factories, threatening military installations, or simply a demonstration of Russia’s ability to strike “anywhere in Europe.” A separate Lithuanian source told the newspaper that Russia wants to show that it can replicate Ukraine’s June 2025 “Spider’s Web” operation, during which small autonomous drones were launched from trucks attacking and damaging 41 Russian strategic military aircraft across multiple air bases deep inside Russia. Russia’s been practicing the technique In September 2025, the Ukrainian media outlet Defense Express reported that Russian drones, possibly Gerberas launched from a shadow fleet vessel, had forced the closure of Copenhagen and Oslo airports. It also said that the Russian manufacturer Zala Aero had practiced launching its reconnaissance and Lancet attack drones from the BK-16E high-speed assault boat in 2020 and again in October 2024. In February 2026, there were also reports that a Swedish naval unit detected and jammed a drone originating from a Russian signals intelligence vessel near the port city of Malmo where the French aircraft Charles De Gaulle was docked. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.