Unidentified drones have been spotted flying over a French military airbase in Mourmelon-le-Grand, just hours after Denmark shut down four airports following similar incursions in what officials are calling a “hybrid attack” on European critical infrastructure.
The drones were observed above the Mourmelon-le-Grand military base in the Marne region of north-eastern France on Sunday evening, prompting immediate security measures at the strategically important facility. French authorities described the event as “exceptional” whilst confirming the small devices were not piloted by military personnel.
The timing of the French incident has raised serious concerns, occurring simultaneously with a wave of drone disruptions across Denmark that forced the closure of Aalborg Airport and prompted sightings at three other facilities. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen branded the coordinated incidents a “systematic operation” by a “professional actor”, though officials stopped short of directly attributing blame to any specific nation.
Copenhagen is now considering whether to invoke NATO’s Article 4, which would trigger emergency consultations between alliance members when territorial integrity or security is threatened. Denmark has already reached out to both NATO and the European Union for support in addressing what officials describe as an unprecedented threat to critical infrastructure.
“There can be no doubt that everything points to this being the work of a professional actor when we are talking about such a systematic operation in so many locations at virtually the same time,” Poulsen told reporters at a press conference on Thursday morning.
The Mourmelon-le-Grand base holds particular significance as it recently hosted Ukrainian soldiers as part of France’s “Champagne Task Force” training programme. Between September and November 2024, approximately 2,000 Ukrainian troops from the “Anne of Kyiv” brigade received intensive combat training at the facility, equipped with French-supplied Caesar artillery pieces, AMX-10 light tanks and other heavy weaponry.
Security sources speaking on condition of anonymity indicated there is currently “no evidence to suggest foreign interference” at the French base, though the investigation remains ongoing. The facility, established in 1857 under Napoleon III, remains one of France’s largest military training camps spanning approximately 10,000 hectares.
Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard warned that his country was facing “hybrid threats which are here to stay”, characterising the drone incursions as attempts to create fear and discord amongst European populations. The minister authorised security forces to shoot down any future drones threatening critical infrastructure.
The Danish disruptions began on Wednesday evening when multiple drones were spotted near Aalborg Airport, forcing authorities to close the airspace for several hours. At least three flights were diverted, with two returning to Copenhagen and one Amsterdam flight rerouted to Billund. Police confirmed the drones operated across “a very large area” for approximately three hours before disappearing.
It was not possible to take down the drones, which flew over a very large area over a couple of hours,” North Jutland chief police inspector Jesper Bøjgaard Madsen admitted in a statement. “At this time, we have not apprehended the drone operators either.”
The incidents follow a pattern of mysterious drone activity across Scandinavia earlier this week. On Monday, Copenhagen Airport, the largest in Scandinavia, was forced to shut for nearly four hours after two to three large drones were spotted in restricted airspace. Oslo Airport in Norway experienced similar disruptions the same evening, closing for three hours.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described Monday’s Copenhagen incident as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date”, though she acknowledged authorities cannot yet determine who is responsible.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen weighed in on Tuesday, stating the drones were part of a “pattern of persistent contestation at our borders” whilst warning that “our critical infrastructure is at risk.
The coordinated nature of the incidents has heightened tensions across NATO’s eastern flank. Poland and Estonia recently invoked Article 4 following separate Russian airspace violations, whilst Romania reported drone breaches linked to Moscow’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine.
“While the facts are still being established, it is clear we are witnessing a pattern of persistent contestation at our borders,” von der Leyen posted on social media. “Europe will respond to this threat with strength and determination.”
Danish authorities confirmed the drones appeared to be launched “locally” rather than from foreign territory, though officials stressed this differed from previous incidents. Commercial drones are typically unable to operate near airports due to built-in GPS restrictions, suggesting the devices were either modified or military-grade equipment.
Intelligence experts note the timing coincides with increasing Russian efforts to test NATO defences through various means including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and physical sabotage. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed any suggestions of Russian involvement as “unfounded”, claiming such allegations were attempts to provoke NATO into direct confrontation.
The French Defence Ministry has declined to provide specific details about Sunday’s incident at Mourmelon-le-Grand, citing operational security concerns. However, sources familiar with the matter confirmed enhanced surveillance measures have been implemented across all military installations in the region.
The Mourmelon facility’s connection to Ukrainian military training adds another layer of complexity to the security breach. Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, France has trained over 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers, with the Champagne Task Force representing one of Europe’s largest single training missions.
NATO officials meeting in New York for the UN General Assembly condemned what they described as “escalatory” Russian behaviour, warning Moscow that the alliance would employ “all necessary military and non-military tools” to defend member states.
Russia bears full responsibility for these actions, which are escalatory, risk miscalculation, and endanger lives,” NATO said in a statement following emergency consultations.
As investigations continue across multiple European nations, security analysts warn these incidents represent a dangerous new phase in hybrid warfare tactics designed to probe Western defences whilst maintaining plausible deniability. The ability to coordinate simultaneous drone operations across multiple countries demonstrates sophisticated planning and resources typically associated with state actors.
Danish authorities have promised a comprehensive response, with Defence Minister Poulsen warning potential perpetrators: “We are going to find the people who are behind this.”
The European Union is now reportedly considering plans for a “drone wall” along its eastern borders, whilst individual nations are reviewing their capabilities to defend against unmanned aerial threats. Denmark has already acknowledged gaps in its ground-based air defence systems that need urgent addressing.
For now, heightened security remains in place at military installations and critical infrastructure across northern Europe as authorities work to identify those responsible for what appears to be a coordinated campaign targeting NATO allies at a crucial moment in the Ukraine conflict.
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Image Credit:
“Kriegsadler II” live-fire training, Mourmelon, 2020 — U.S. Army photo by Spc. Austin Riel, public domain
