European countries are not prepared to counter drone attacks from Russia and currently cannot clearly attribute such attacks to Moscow, according to a study published by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
The study, produced with Germany's Hanns Seidel Foundation, found that European states have been unable to clearly pin responsibility for drone incidents, including at airports and sensitive military sites, on Russia. The report said it considers it highly likely that the Kremlin has run a drone campaign over Europe.
Detection and response gaps
The researchers said their core assessment is that Europe's current counter-drone architecture does not yet match the threat, despite growing attention from NATO, the European Union and national governments. They said detection is uneven, legal authority is fragmented, response options are often disproportionate, and attribution remains too slow to support timely deterrence.
No European government has yet publicly attributed a drone overflight to Russia, the study said. European officials told the researchers that governments have focused on responding nationally rather than linking incidents across Europe to see the wider picture.
Foundation president reacts
Klaus Holetschek, president of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, said the findings were concerning, adding that Europe is not yet sufficiently prepared for this form of hybrid threat. The study covered 144 incidents between August 2024 and February 2026 across 12 NATO member states and Ireland.
