CIA reportedly warns of Russian plans to attack Spain, France or Italy with sea-launched drones

Spanish newspaper El Mundo has learned from its sources that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has warned of Russian plans to attack Spain, France or Italy using drones launched from ships at sea.

Source: European Pravda, citing an El Mundo report

Details: The newspaper reports that European foreign ministries have received a detailed report prepared following CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow.

According to information from the Lithuanian government, Russia plans to launch Gerbera drones with a range of 600 km from ships. Russia is thus reportedly preparing new drone attacks in Europe, this time targeting Mediterranean countries.

"They will use drones launched from the sea, concealed in a container on a ship. It is not difficult at all," a source told the newspaper.

El Mundo's sources say the governments of Spain, France and Italy have also been informed that Russia was preparing a possible drone operation against one of these countries. The warning coincides with an unusual move by Emmanuel Macron: after convening a meeting of the Defence Council on 16 September, two days later he invited the leaders of all parties and candidates in the 2027 presidential election to the Élysée Palace.

Several defence analysts interviewed by the newspaper confirmed that they were aware of the existence of a CIA report that had been circulated among European foreign ministries.

The attacks are reportedly being prepared specifically against France, Italy and Spain because elections will be held there in 2027 and right-wing political forces are already gaining support.

El Mundo says the main purpose of the Russian operation would not be to cause significant destruction. With an explosive payload of around four to five kilograms, a Gerbera drone would more likely be used to shut down an airport, start a fire, fly over a military facility or demonstrate that Russia is capable of reaching Europe's rear areas.

Background:

• Moscow has repeatedly stated that supplying Ukraine with weapons, intelligence and military advisers makes Western countries participants in the war and legitimate targets.
• However, Russia has so far sought to avoid crossing the "threshold of war" by refraining from actions that could provoke a coordinated NATO response, while testing the Alliance's reaction through individual incidents in Poland and the Baltic states. In particular, on 15 September, Italian fighter jets on a NATO patrol mission shot down a drone that had entered Lithuanian airspace. On 23 September, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter violated Polish airspace.
• An Italian media outlet published an investigation by Rome prosecutors that uncovered a network of Russian spies at the Russian embassies in Italy and the Vatican.

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