Journalism students expose Russian-linked vessels off the Dutch and German coast
2 days ago
- #Russian Espionage
- #Drone Surveillance
- #OSINT
- Young German journalism students tracked Russian-crewed freighters off the Dutch and German coast, linking them to drone swarms over military bases.
- Suspicious ship movements, including the HAV Dolphin and HAV Snapper, coincided with drone sightings near military installations.
- Leaked classified documents revealed 1,072 drone incidents in 2025, with 45% occurring in the evening and targeting military sites.
- Munich Airport faced shutdowns due to drone sightings, causing significant economic damage and passenger disruptions.
- Drones systematically surveilled military operations, including deliveries to Ukraine and training exercises.
- The students' investigation involved analyzing tens of thousands of ship tracking data points and chasing a ship across three countries.
- Ships like the HAV Dolphin and Lauga had ties to Russian military facilities and Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation.
- Rosatom's drones have specifications that match the observed incidents, with ranges covering the suspicious ship positions.
- European intelligence services assess the ships as operating with high confidence on behalf of Russian interests.
- The students' findings, though not conclusive, present a coherent pattern linking Russian-linked vessels to drone activities.