British Troops Deploy To U.S. Air Bases After Drone Sightings

According to reporting by the Telegraph, British troops with anti-drone equipment have been deployed to several U.S. air bases across England after a series of drone sightings. Detailing the incident, the U.S. Air Force said, “The number of systems fluctuated, and they ranged in sizes and configurations. The sUASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities or assets.”

While the overall picture is unclear, some are looking at potential Russian involvement as the GRU is actively conducting a covert sabotage campaign across Europe. Over the past few months, the intelligence agency has been implicated in several plots to sow terror far behind the frontlines in Ukraine. These plots include attempting to plant incendiary devices on DHL cargo planes, plotting to assassinate the CEO of Rheinmetall, and working with German-Russian nationals to bomb an American base in Germany that trains Ukrainian soldiers. 

The United Kingdom has been a hotbed of Russian activity over the years. Back in 2018, the GRU poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal led to the death of a British woman. And recently, a man convicted of burning down a factory in east London admitted to carrying out the act on behalf of Russia.