Dublin Drone Incident: Military UAVs Nearly Intercepted Zelensky’s Plane

We have been tracking Russia’s hybrid drone campaign across Europe for months, but what happened during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s state visit to Ireland represents a dangerous escalation. Military-grade drones breached Ireland’s no-fly zone and flew directly toward the expected flight path of Zelensky’s aircraft as it approached Dublin Airport on December 1, missing his plane by minutes.

Irish officials now confirm the incident was part of a “coordinated threat” targeting EU and Ukrainian interests. The drones reached the exact position where Zelensky’s plane was scheduled to be at precisely the moment it was due to pass. His aircraft landed slightly ahead of schedule, narrowly avoiding what could have been a dangerous encounter.

What Happened Over Dublin Bay

According to The Journal, which first broke the story, four unidentified military-style drones breached the designated no-fly zone around Dublin shortly before 11pm on December 1. The Irish Aviation Authority had implemented drone restrictions specifically for Zelensky’s visit.

The drones appeared near the coast by Howth around the time Zelensky’s aircraft was scheduled to pass. Sources told Irish media the UAVs had their lights on, suggesting “they wanted to be seen.” Security officials believe the intent was disruption rather than a direct attack.

After the near-miss with Zelensky’s flight path, the drones orbited above the LÉ William Butler Yeats, an Irish Navy vessel secretly deployed in the Irish Sea for the presidential visit. Crew members spotted the illuminated aircraft against the night sky, but the ship lacked any capability to respond. No radar. No jammers. No interception systems. The Navy’s only option would have been machine guns, which commanders deemed too dangerous.

When Zelensky departed Dublin, his aircraft used what officials described as a “specialist takeoff” to minimize exposure to any further drone threats.

Ireland’s Defense Gap Exposed

The incident has exposed Ireland’s critical vulnerability to hybrid warfare. Ireland spends just 0.2% of GDP on defense, the lowest of any EU member state. For comparison, the EU average is 1.3%, and NATO allies are pushing toward 3-5%.

Ireland maintains a policy of military neutrality and is one of only four EU nations outside NATO. Its Navy operates just eight patrol ships, though a March 2025 report revealed only four could sail due to severe personnel shortages. The country depends on the UK’s Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft threatening its airspace.

Retired Air Corps Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Byrne called the situation “remarkably sinister” in an interview with RTÉ. He noted there is “no point in having a drone-free zone if it cannot be enforced.”

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed the incident was part of a coordinated threat, stating it “certainly wasn’t a back garden drone enthusiast.” He added that gardaí have “very good anti-drone technology” and that Ireland would be “spending more in terms of defence” to combat drone threats.

Officials Point to Russia

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin addressed parliament on December 10, stating that circumstances are “suggestive of this being part of a Russian-inspired hybrid campaign against European Union and Ukrainian interests.”

Martin acknowledged the drones were not shot down but defended the decision, noting that “no member state yet, bar France in the past 48 hours or so, has attempted to disable drones or bring them down.” He said the security operation during Zelensky’s visit was effective and that the president’s plane had landed “quite some time” before the drones appeared.

European Council President António Costa, visiting Dublin on Tuesday, described the incident as “another example of hybrid attacks from Russia.”

Russia’s embassy in Dublin called the allegations “baseless,” with a spokesperson claiming European politicians were promoting a “myth” about the Russian threat.

Zelensky himself confirmed the drone presence during a press conference. “There were drones indeed,” he told reporters. “Somehow, we have become accustomed to living in these circumstances.”

Ireland Announces Major Defense Investment

In direct response to the incident, Defense Minister Helen McEntee announced a €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion USD) defense spending plan on December 11. The package includes immediate focus on counter-drone technology that can “identify and neutralise any drones that are identified as a threat.”

McEntee said it is essential this capability is in place “as soon as possible, not least because of the upcoming European Presidency” that Ireland will hold in the second half of 2026.

The investment also includes military radar systems, additional Air Corps helicopters, enhanced subsea capabilities for the Naval Service, and upgrades to the Army’s armored fleet.

Part of a Larger Pattern

The Dublin incident fits a disturbing pattern of drone incursions across Europe that began accelerating in September 2025. Copenhagen Airport was shut down for nearly four hours on September 22 after large unidentified drones appeared overhead. Similar incidents followed at airports in Munich, Brussels, Liège, and across Scandinavia.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the European drone situation “the most difficult and dangerous since the end of the Second World War.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany suspects “Russia is behind most of these drone flights,” calling them “espionage attempts” aimed at “unsettling the population.”

The EU has responded by fast-tracking plans for a comprehensive “drone wall” defense system. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in October that the system would expand to protect all EU borders with 360-degree coverage.

DroneXL’s Take

This incident crystallizes everything we have been reporting about Europe’s drone security crisis. Ireland, the EU’s lowest defense spender, just learned the hard way what happens when hybrid warfare comes knocking and you have no capability to answer.

Think about the optics here. Military-grade drones buzz an Irish Navy ship for an extended period, and the crew can do nothing but watch. No radar to track them. No jammers to disable them. No interceptors to bring them down. Just sailors on deck spotting threats with their own eyes in 2025.

We have covered this exact vulnerability pattern across Europe. In September, we reported how the EU accelerated drone wall plans after incursions hit military sites across Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania. In October, we documented how the EU fast-tracked its drone wall defense system following airport shutdowns in Copenhagen and Oslo. Von der Leyen’s declaration of hybrid war with Russia came after weeks of systematic airspace violations.

Belgium was so unprepared that Germany had to rush anti-drone strike teams to help after Brussels Airport closures exposed critical gaps. And just two weeks ago, a Russian drone penetrated 62 miles into Romania, the deepest breach of NATO territory yet, while fighter jets watched unable to engage over collateral damage concerns.

Ireland’s neutrality has always been more aspirational than practical. Seventy-five percent of international data cables pass through or near Irish waters. The country will hold the EU presidency in 2026. And yet until this week, counter-drone technology was apparently not a priority.

The timing of Minister McEntee’s €1.7 billion defense announcement, just hours ago, tells you everything. Russia’s hybrid campaign is forcing even the most reluctant European nations to invest in drone defense. The question is whether they are buying capability fast enough, or just getting in line behind everyone else scrambling to catch up.

What we saw in Dublin was not an attack. It was a message. Russia demonstrated it can put military drones wherever it wants in European airspace, target a wartime president’s aircraft, and face zero consequences. The drones had their lights on because Moscow wanted everyone to know they were there.

As Dmitry Medvedev said in October when denying Russian involvement in airport disruptions while simultaneously calling them a “useful reminder” of war to Europe, the Kremlin is playing a game where plausible deniability does not even matter anymore.

Ireland just joined the growing list of European nations learning that neutrality does not make you invisible. It makes you an easy target.

What do you think about the drone incident during Zelensky’s Dublin visit? Should Ireland have shot down the drones? Share your thoughts in the comments below.