Europe cannot counter or clearly attribute Russian drone attacks, study finds

Europe ill-prepared to counter Russian drone attacks and cannot clearly attribute them, says an International Institute for Strategic Studies study published Sunday. The study examined 144 cases in 12 NATO states and Ireland from August 2024 to February 2026. It says the Kremlin likely conducted a drone campaign over Europe, but detection is uneven, legal authorities fragmented, responses often disproportionate, and attribution too slow. No European government has publicly attributed a drone sighting to Russia; officials focused on national responses. Hanns Seidel Foundation chairman called the situation an alarming hybrid threat.