The Swedish army had disrupted a drone in the Oresund (or Sound) strait on Wednesday, about 7 nautical miles (almost 13 kilometers) from the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle. That French ship was docked in Malmö. The Charles de Gaulle is in the region to participate in various NATO exercises.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated after the incident that it was probably a Russian drone. A technical investigation by the Swedish army has now confirmed that suspicion.
At the time of the incident, the Russian reconnaissance ship Zhigulyovsk was in the Sound, the strait between Sweden and Denmark.
Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson told the channel SVT that it is not a coincidence that something like this happens just as the French aircraft carrier visits Sweden. He visited the aircraft carrier on Friday, which docked in Malmö, Sweden on Wednesday. “The most important thing is to speak clearly and show that we are prepared and can deal with such situations,” the prime minister said.
In recent months, European countries have increasingly reported suspicious drones near sensitive locations, such as military installations or airports. The drones are often associated with Russian hybrid warfare. The Baltic Sea is located near the Sound and is the setting for the rivalry between Russia and the NATO countries.