Overview
- Swedish naval forces detected a suspected drone and used electronic jamming to disrupt it roughly 10–13 kilometers from the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, with no impact on the carrier’s operations.
- The Swedish Armed Forces say the UAV was observed launching from the Russian signals‑intelligence ship Zhigulevsk and describe the flight as unauthorized, prompting a review under Sweden’s Access Ordinance.
- Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defense Minister Pål Jonson characterized the episode as likely Russian and a familiar tactic, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegation as absurd.
- French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot called the incident a “ridiculous provocation” if confirmed Russian, emphasizing that the carrier’s security was not threatened.
- The carrier’s Malmö port call is part of Mission LA FAYETTE 26 and NATO activities in the region, as officials tie the episode to a broader pattern of suspected Russian hybrid operations across Europe.