Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev claimed Monday it remains a mystery who’s behind the wave of drone disruptions paralyzing European airports, while simultaneously calling the incidents a “useful reminder” to Europeans about the dangers of war. The provocative statement comes as Munich Airport suffered three shutdowns in 72 hours, stranding over 10,000 passengers during Germany’s national holiday and Oktoberfest finale.
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, denied Russian involvement in recent disruptions at airports across Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium in a Telegram post reported by Reuters.
“People who sympathise with our country (in Europe) will not waste their resources by coming out of hiding. Our ‘agents and moles’ are waiting for a separate order,” Medvedev wrote.
Medvedev’s Inflammatory Comments Target European Leaders
The Russian official, known for outspoken anti-Western rhetoric, used the opportunity to attack French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“The main thing is that short-sighted Europeans feel the danger of war on their own skin. That they fear and tremble like dumb animals in a herd being driven to slaughter,” Medvedev stated, adding that he hoped Europeans would turn against their leaders.
Medvedev accused Macron and Merz of stoking war tensions for “political and financial reasons” while Europeans experienced what he characterized as a taste of continental conflict. His comments come as European officials suspect Russian involvement in the coordinated drone incidents.
European Drone Crisis Reaches Critical Point
The statement follows an unprecedented wave of drone disruptions across Europe. Copenhagen Airport closed for nearly four hours on September 22 after two to three large drones repeatedly entered controlled airspace. Danish officials characterized the incidents as “the most serious attack yet on Denmark’s infrastructure” and a “hybrid attack” by a “professional actor.”
Munich Airport’s three consecutive closures between October 2-4 proved particularly disruptive, with 58 flight cancellations and 23 diversions affecting approximately 10,000 travelers. Similar incidents forced temporary closures at Oslo, Aalborg, and Billund airports. Belgian defense officials also confirmed drone sightings over the Elsenborn military base near the German border.
Europe Accelerates Counter-Drone Defense Spending
The escalating crisis has transformed the previously stalled “drone wall” initiative into a top EU priority. EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told reporters the coordinated detection and interception system could become operational within a year, with Latvia already awarding €10 million ($10.6 million USD) and Lithuania receiving €11 million ($11.7 million USD) for counter-drone solutions.
Denmark banned all civilian drone flights ahead of last week’s European Council summit in Copenhagen, where leaders discussed bolstering continental air defenses. Germany is rushing emergency legislation to authorize its military to shoot down suspicious drones—authority it currently lacks despite months of escalating incursions.
DroneXL’s Take
Medvedev’s statement reveals Russia’s hybrid warfare playbook even as it denies involvement. His assertion that the disruptions serve as a “useful reminder” essentially confirms the strategic objective—terrorizing European civilians and testing NATO’s security posture—regardless of who’s actually launching the drones.
The timing is telling. As we’ve reported extensively, Ukraine is now training NATO on counter-drone tactics developed through three years of defending against Russian attacks. European nations are rushing hundreds of millions in counter-UAS contracts. Switzerland just committed $136 million after watching Munich’s chaos unfold.
Medvedev has built his post-presidency reputation on inflammatory social media threats. U.S. President Donald Trump recently deployed nuclear submarines in response to Medvedev’s nuclear rhetoric. Western analysts widely dismiss him as a Kremlin attack dog whose provocations shouldn’t be taken literally, though his pattern of escalatory statements serves Moscow’s broader intimidation campaign.
The real story isn’t Medvedev’s denial—it’s Europe’s recognition that cheap commercial drones have fundamentally changed the security landscape. When a few thousand dollars in consumer hardware can shut down major airports and strand tens of thousands of travelers, the asymmetric threat becomes impossible to ignore. Russia understands this calculus perfectly, regardless of what Medvedev posts on Telegram.
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