Russia 'flies drones' over German nuclear power plant from North Sea

Russia 'flies drones' over German nuclear power plant from North Sea

• Russia is suspected of flying drones over a German nuclear power plan
• Germany is one of Russia's biggest critics, and one of Ukraine's biggest allies
• Russia may now be scouting Germany as a potential sabotage target

Russia is suspected of flying several drones, including military UAVs, over a nuclear power plant in Germany, state security officers said.

Germany is one of the most vocal critics of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and has provided or committed a total of €28billion (£23.77bn) in financing or direct delivery of weaponry.

Now Russia appears to be scouting Germany as a potential target for sabotage, intelligence officers told Bild.

Sources told the newspaper that a flying object was detected flying over the industrial area in Brunsbütte, on the northern coast of Germany, last night.

Drones have been flying over the area, home to a nuclear power plant, an Liquefied Natural Gas terminal and several chemical plants, since at least August 8, and have been attributed to Russian agents who are likely launching them from civilian ships in the North Sea.

State security officers from the Schleswig-Holstein State Office of Criminal Investigation told the newspaper that they believe the drones they haven't yet caught are unmanned Orlan-10 drones, which can travel at speeds of over 90mph for a total of 370miles in one go.

The drones have been used across the world, most notable in Syria during the country's civil war, where they were used for reconnaissance, aerial imagery and 3-D mapping to support humanitarian convoys, as well as search and rescue operations.

Police officers in Lower Saxony and Hamburg are now on alert for future drone activity.

It comes at Putin today held a meeting with senior officials about the situation in Russian regions bordering Ukraine after Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion into the Kursk region on August 6.

Ukraine's lightning incursion into Kursk, the biggest into Russia by a foreign power since World War Two, saw thousands of Ukrainian troops punch through Russia's western border, apparently catching Moscow by surprise.

Fierce fighting since then has raged as Russian troops battle to dislodge the Ukrainian soldiers who have sought to consolidate and expand the territory they control.

'I have gathered you in order to discuss the situation that is developing at the moment in the border regions of Russia,' Putin said at the opening of the meeting.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said that Russia was assessing the damage to agriculture and industry in the border regions.

Acting Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov said that 133,190 people had left or been evacuated from his region. Putin asked Smirnov if cooperation with law enforcement and military agencies was working. Smirnov said it was.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz told Putin that border forces had repelled an attempt by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance team from entering the region.