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Russia Is Using Sleeper Agents to Launch Drone Disruptions Across EU, Ukraine Warns
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has infiltrated several European Union countries with covert operatives responsible for drone incursions near airports and allied military installations, according to Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya.
In an interview with The Guardian published on October 4, Kyslytsya said Ukraine’s intelligence services had identified Russian “agents and moles” involved in recent incidents over Denmark and Germany. He referred to them as konservy—literally “tin cans” in Ukrainian—dormant assets that Moscow could “open” or activate when needed.
Kyslytsya described the incursions as part of a broader Russian effort to “move the red lines” and test European defenses.
“I’m sure Putin gets emotional if not physical satisfaction humiliating the West by showing what he perceives as his super-strength,” he told The Guardian, warning that the Kremlin was “already at war with Europe.”
The deputy minister said Russia’s actions, including drone disruptions at Copenhagen and Munich airports, were calculated provocations aimed at undermining public confidence and paralyzing critical infrastructure.
Danish police temporarily closed Copenhagen airport last week following reports of drone activity, while similar incidents in Germany and Estonia prompted heightened NATO monitoring. Moscow has denied involvement.
According to Kyslytsya, the response of European governments will determine whether Russia escalates further. “Without a decisive transatlantic response,” he said, “Putin will escalate escalating,” suggesting that future actions could include more cyberattacks and hybrid operations.
European leaders have expressed growing concern over such activities. During a summit in Copenhagen this week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Europe faced its “most difficult and dangerous situation since the end of the second world war.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined her in calling for a coordinated response to what they described as a “Russian hybrid war.”
Kyslytsya added that many policymakers still misunderstood the evolving nature of modern conflict. “In the 21st century you don’t need tanks to put technologically advanced countries on their knees,” he said. “By using drones in a smart way you can achieve your goals better than with a nuclear bomb.”
He also commented on Ukraine’s relations with Washington, noting improvement since spring, when President Donald Trump criticized Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the White House. Kyslytsya told The Guardian that US attitudes were “moving,” with a clearer recognition that “Putin is the main obstacle to peace.”
Earlier, Ukrainian drone operators shot down several drones in Danish airspace during a NATO drill, showcasing their real-time interception capabilities. The demonstration, part of the “Wings of Defense” exercise, followed recent reports of unidentified drones and suspected Russian naval activity near Denmark’s borders.
