Several drones flew over the Mourmelon-le-Grand military base in the Marne department in northern France. Authorities intercepted the drones, Polish news portal Do Rzezcy reports.
According to the Military Delegation of the Marne Department and the French Army, these were “small machines, not drones operated by military personnel.” They also indicate that, as of yet, there is zero evidence of foreign interference.
Drones flew over all units at the base, where engineers, armored units, and a supply regiment are stationed, AFP reported on Thursday. Ukrainian soldiers were stationed at the Mourmelon-le-Grand base for training last year. Since this year, the base has also housed a tactical drone training center.
Earlier in the day, French President Emanuel Macron had assured Denmark of French support in the face of their own incident with “unidentified drones.”
“I have just spoken with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. I expressed France’s full solidarity with Denmark following repeated intrusions by unidentified drones affecting operations at Copenhagen Airport. France stands ready to support Denmark in assessing the situation and contributing to the security of Danish airspace,” he had posted on X.
The timing of the drones in France is disturbing, given a slew of other recent incursions.
Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers, were reportedly intercepted by the U.S. Air Force over Alaska just days ago. NORAD posted a statement that downplayed any actual threat: “The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked two Tu-95s and two Su-35s operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Sept. 24, 2025. NORAD responded with an E-3, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers to positively identify and intercept in the Alaskan ADIZ.”
“The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” their official statement read, although they also added: “NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.”
Two weeks ago, numerous Russian drones flew into Polish airspace, in the latest of a number of such incidents.
A week ago, Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace, with authorities there immediately requesting consultations under NATO’s Article 4. Estonia also requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Poland has also requested Article 4 to be invoked.
This past August, drones similar to those intercepted in France, appeared over an industrial park in Brunsbüttel, Germany, as well as near a German nuclear power plant, German military bases and critical infrastructure facilities.
On Thursday, NATO’s Air Command announced that five Russian fighter jets flying close to Latvian airspace were intercepted by two Hungarian Gripens.
The Su-30, Su-35, and three MiG-31 aircraft were flying over the Baltic Sea. The Gripens took off from a base in Šiauliai, Lithuania, where they are stationed as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission.
As tensions escalate on the back of U.S. President Trump’s harsh words for Putin and apparent approval of any Russian drones or jets to be shot down in NATO airspace, Poland has now warned its citizens to leave Belarus immediately.
According to a statement cited by the Kyiv Independent, the Polish embassy in Minsk has stated, “In the event of a drastic deterioration in the security situation, border closures, or other unforeseen circumstances, evacuation may prove significantly more difficult or even impossible.”
