Mystery drones have been spotted following a British aircraft carrier at sea after unmanned aerial vehicles were seen hovering over three air bases in England.
An unidentified 1.5 by 1.5 metre drone appeared to tail the Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth as it entered the port of Hamburg, Germany, on Friday.
The German military positioned guards around the port and attempted to target the drone with HP-47 jammers before it flew away, German newspaper Bild reported.
The US Air Force (USAF) also revealed on Saturday that “small unmanned aerial systems” flew over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, as well as RAF Feltwell in Norfolk last week.
USAF, which uses the bases, said the size and number of drones overhead had fluctuated.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it would not comment on security procedures.
While it is unclear whether the drones were hostile, the incidents occurred during a week that saw significant escalation of hostilities between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine.
Kyiv’s forces struck targets inside Russia with US and British-supplied long-range missiles for the first time.
In response, Russia tested a newly developed mid-range hypersonic ballistic missile in a strike on Dnipro, Ukraine – the strongest missile believed to have been used in the war so far.
The Kremlin called the strike a message to the West that Moscow will respond harshly to any “reckless” actions by Ukraine’s allies, while Vladimir Putin proclaimed the right to strike nations that allow their weapons to be used against Russia.
In response to the drone sightings this week, the USAF said it had the “the right to protect” bases in England from threats. It did not comment on whether defence mechanisms were used to target the drones.
“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation,” it said.
“We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets,” it added.
RAF Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, including F-35A and F-15E fighter jets. RAF Mildenhall hosts the USAF’s 100th Air Refuelling Wing which conducts combat support operations throughout Europe and Africa. RAF Feltwell provides housing and other services for military personnel.
An MoD spokesman said: “We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites. This includes counter drone security capabilities.
“We won’t comment further on security procedures.”
British soldiers were warned in 2023 that spies could be flying reconnaissance drones over UK military bases.
The Field Army Threat Handbook, published in October 2023, details the tactics, techniques and procedures favoured by hostile foreign intelligence services.
The handbook warned of the “the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and physical reconnaissance”, stating there were particularly “credible espionage and subversion threats” surrounding the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
05:48 PM GMT
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05:47 PM GMT
British soldiers told to be wary of drones
British soldiers were warned last year that spies could be flying reconnaissance drones over UK military bases.
The Field Army Threat Handbook, published in October last year and promising clear military information concerning best practice for commanders and troops, details the tactics, techniques and procedures favoured by hostile foreign intelligence services.
Listed under “threats to the homebase”, the handbook warns of tactics such as “the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and physical reconnaissance”, stating there were particularly “credible espionage and subversion threats” surrounding the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
04:48 PM GMT
US warns it has ‘right to protect’ bases in England
The US Air Force (USAF) has warned that it has “the right to protect” bases in England from threats amid drone sightings this week.
Several clusters of “unmanned aerial systems” were spotted in the skies above RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell between 20 and 22 Nov.
“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation,” the Air Force said, adding: “We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets.”
Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which provides cutting-edge worldwide responsive combat air power in the form of fighter jets.
Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, which conducts combat support operations throughout Europe and Africa, while Feltwell provides housing, schools and other services.
04:13 PM GMT
Trump key pick plans deal to end war in Ukraine
Donald Trump’s pick for US national security advisor (NSA) has called for an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, and for both parties to come to the negotiating table.
Mike Waltz said: “We need to bring this to a responsible end. We need to restore deterrence, restore peace, and get ahead of this escalation ladder, rather than responding to it.”
The Republican congressman has been critical of Russia but has opposed increasing aid to Ukraine.
“President Trump has been very clear about the need to end this conflict,” he told US media outlet Fox News on Sunday, adding: “We need to be discussing who’s at that table, whether it’s an agreement, an armistice, how to get both sides to the table and then what’s the framework of a deal?”
Waltz said he had met with Joe Biden’s NSA Jake Sullivan and warned “adversaries” abroad against thinking they could gain an advantage in the months before Mr Trump takes office in January.
03:39 PM GMT
Zelensky calls for better air defences after Russian drone attack
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for better air defences after an overnight Russian drone attack evaded interception.
The Ukrainian president voiced concern after 23 of the 73 drones launched by Russia managed to break through the country’s defensive shield.
“An air alert has been sounded almost daily across Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky said on Telegram messenger, after a week in which Russia launched more than 800 guided aerial bombs, around 460 attack drones, and more than 20 missiles of various types.
“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state. But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us,” he added.
The Ukrainian military said earlier on Sunday that air defence units had destroyed more than 10 Russian drones that were targeting Kyiv overnight.
03:06 PM GMT
Erdogan calls Putin to discuss further ‘cooperation’
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Vladimir Putin during a telephone call on Sunday that he wishes to increase trade between Turkey and Russia.
“President Erdogan declared that he aimed to increase the cooperation between Turkey and Russia in a number of areas, notably expanding the volume of trade,” the Turkish presidency said in a statement.
Turkey initially condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has since retreated to a neutral stance, justifying the relations as a necessity born out of Turkey’s dependency on Russian oil and gas.
02:22 PM GMT
Pictured: Oreshnik wreckage
01:42 PM GMT
Putin rolls out new incentives for recruits
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine.
The new legislation allows those signing up for a one-year contract to write off bad debts of up to 10 million rubles (£77,000), according to Russian state news agency Interfax.
The law applies to debts for which a court order for collection was issued and enforcement proceedings had commenced before Dec 1, 2024.
Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives, in some cases several times the average salary, to those willing to fight in Ukraine.
01:23 PM GMT
Ukrainian missiles downed over Kursk
Two Ukrainian missiles and 27 drones have been destroyed over Russia’s Kursk region, claims the governor of the region that borders Ukraine.
Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov did not provide further details in a post on his Telegram channel.
The Ukrainian military later said on Telegram that its forces had destroyed a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system in Kursk.
12:48 PM GMT
Pictured: Ukrainian military braces for winter
12:26 PM GMT
Russia fires commander for misleading Ukraine reports, war bloggers claim
Vladimir Putin has fired a senior general for providing inaccurate reports about the progress of the war in Ukraine, according to pro-Russian war bloggers and Russian media.
Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the Southern Grouping, has reportedly been removed from his command, though there was no official confirmation.
Russian war bloggers have criticised the operation around Siversk, where they said poorly supported Russian units were thrown into deadly battles for little apparent tactical gain.
Russian state outlet RBK reported that a source in the Russian ministry of defence acknowledged Anashkin’s dismissal but claimed that it was due to a “planned rotation”.
11:51 AM GMT
Ballistic name for Russian baby
A Russian man wants to name his 15th child Oreshnik after Vladimir Putin’s new ballistic missile.
Vladimir Sukhov told media that the missile, unveiled by Putin on Thursday, was Russia’s “protector” and that it was his patriotic duty to have as many children as possible.
“For the glory of our great and powerful country Russia, our Russian people, our victorious warriors, our great commander-in-chief Vladimir Putin,” he said.
Media reported that Mr Sukhov had had 15 children with different women.
This month the Russian parliament banned “childless propaganda” in an attempt to boost Russia’s birth rate, an obsession of Putin.
11:28 AM GMT
Russia threatens Seoul over supplying arms to Kyiv
The Russian foreign ministry has warned Seoul that it will respond “in every way” if South Korea supplies arms to Ukraine.
South Korea has been considering sending military assistance to Kyiv in response to the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.
“Seoul must realise that the possible use of South Korean weapons to kill Russian citizens will fully destroy relations between our countries,” Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko told the state-run Tass news agency.
He added: “Of course, we will respond in every way that we find necessary. It is unlikely that this will strengthen the security of the Republic of Korea itself.”
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday night that he expects the 10,000 or so North Korean troops amassing in Russia to “soon” enter combat against Ukraine.
11:08 AM GMT
Fears for grain exports as Russia targets ports
Volodymyr Zelensky has said 321 port facilities have been damaged by Russian drone and missile strikes since July 2023, hampering Ukraine’s ability to export grain around the world.
Ukraine, known as the Breadbasket of Europe, exported around six million tonnes of grain every month from its Black Sea ports before the Russian invasion in 2022.
President Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine remained committed to being a “reliable contributor” of food to 400 million people in 100 countries and pledged to help share knowledge, cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise to fight against world hunger.
Speaking at the third Grain from Ukraine summit in Kyiv, he said: “It is so important that we continue to stand together in protecting food security, the security of routes, supplies, food and other critical export goods.”
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10:44 AM GMT
Russia recruits Yemeni mercenaries
The Kremlin has recruited hundreds of men from Yemen to fight in its war in Ukraine.
According to the FT, the men were tricked into travelling to Russia with promises of work and citizenship but were instead forced into the army and sent to the frontline.
It published a video of four alleged Yemeni mercenaries wearing military uniforms, sitting in a wood in Ukraine.
Speaking in Arabic, the video’s commentator complained that a colleague has tried to commit suicide.
“We are under bombardment. Mines, drones, digging bunkers,” he said.
A company linked to Houthi rebels in Yemen helped to organise the men’s transfer to Russia, the FT said.
The Kremlin has built strong links with Iran-backed Houthi rebels since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This has reportedly included sending weapons to the rebels.
10:39 AM GMT
Prioritise Ukraine, urges Taiwan’s former president
Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has urged the US support to prioritise support for Ukraine, despite the rising threat of a Chinese invasion of the self-governing island.
“They should do whatever they can to help the Ukrainians, we [Taiwan] still have time” Ms Tsai told the Halifax International Security Forum.
“A Ukrainian victory will serve as the most effective deterrent to future aggression,” she said.
Ms Tsai served as president from 2016 to 2024, leaving office in January after poor local election results and ceding power to her Vice President William Lai.
10:30 AM GMT
Watch: A week of drone attacks on Ukraine
This week, air raid alerts have sounded almost daily across Ukraine. Just last night, our air defense forces managed to shot down nearly 50 strike drones. Over the past week, Russia has launched more than 800 guided aerial bombs, around 460 strike drones, and over 20 missiles of… pic.twitter.com/wUeKmbGcIF
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 24, 2024
10:30 AM GMT
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