On February 27, the Swedish Armed Forces confirmed the downing of a Russian drone near the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. This incident has been labeled an “absurd provocation” by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
The Swedish military reported that one of its ships detected the drone, which had taken off from the Russian electronic reconnaissance vessel Zhigulevsk in the Øresund Strait. The Russian ship had entered Swedish territorial waters in accordance with international law.
HMS Rapp, a Swedish naval vessel present in the area to provide security for the French carrier, approached the Russian ship to monitor its passage through the strait. The onboard systems of the Swedish vessel identified the drone’s presence and initiated countermeasures to neutralize it.
“The Swedish Armed Forces can now confirm that the Russian drone conducted an unauthorized flight,” stated a press release.
Military officials emphasized that the drone’s actions constituted a violation of access regulations.
“Such actions by Russia are not unexpected, but this is a serious incident that underscores the need for constant vigilance. Our units acted exemplary and professionally,” said Eva Skog Haslum, head of operations for the Swedish Armed Forces.
Prior to the Swedish military’s confirmation, Minister Barrot addressed reporters aboard the Charles de Gaulle, asserting that the drone posed no threat to the aircraft carrier.
“If, as the Swedish Defense Minister suggests, this incident had Russian origins, the only conclusion I can draw is that it was a senseless provocation,” Barrot remarked.
In response to media inquiries, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that the drone was Russian, calling such claims “absurd.”
It is noteworthy that the drone was shot down while approaching the Charles de Gaulle, which was docked in Malmö for strategic exercises.
Swedish forces confirmed the downing of a Russian drone near the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, prompting reactions from both Swedish and French officials regarding the incident's implications.