The Swedish Armed Forces confirmed on Friday that it was a Russian drone observed in Swedish waters on Wednesday, approximately 13 kilometers from the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which was visiting Malmö.
A Swedish Navy patrol boat in the area activated countermeasures to disrupt the drone, according to the Armed Forces.
Russia notes
The incident stands out from previous reports of suspected Russian drone flights in Europe, says Johan Norberg, a security policy analyst and Russia expert at the Swedish Defence Research Institute (FOI).
What is new to me is that you actually disrupt a drone and damage it, and that the Swedish side even says it did.
Russia's so-called hybrid warfare is about testing borders, without creating escalation, Norberg says.
Then it's good that you respond and don't let it pass. The Russians note that we do it and that we say it.
Gathering intelligence
Drone violations could be a way for Russia to express its dissatisfaction with Europe's support for Ukraine, Norberg says.
Then it's also a way to gather intelligence, and a way to annoy us, even if it doesn't make us stop supporting Ukraine.
