NATO was forced to act fast after one of Vladimir Putin’s drones headed straight for Europe’s biggest aircraft carrier in a brazen security scare.
The unmanned aircraft was today spotted flying towards the mighty French vessel Charles de Gaulle as it sat docked in Malmö, Sweden.
A Russian drone approached the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on ThursdayCredit: Handout
Swedish forces jammed Putin’s drone, causing it to disappear from radar during the incidentCredit: AFP
The Charles de Gaulle, Europe’s largest aircraft carrier, was docked in Malmö, Sweden, for a strategic exerciseCredit: Alamy
The 800ft-long carrier – the only nuclear-powered carrier outside the US Navy – was in port for a strategic exercise when Swedish forces saw the drone lift off from a nearby Russian vessel.
It then made a beeline for the carrier, in what officials called a “serious security” incident.
Swedish operatives launched a jamming operation, knocking the drone out of the sky’s control grid and forcing it to vanish from radar.
It is unclear whether it sunk back to the Russian ship or plunged into the sea.
Named after French war hero and president Charles de Gaulle, the war vessel normally carries around 2,000 sailors and up to 30 fighter jets.
The confrontation erupted just days after , snarling that his “adversaries know how things could end” if they resort to using a “nuclear element” against Moscow.
The Kremlin’s latest stunt comes as Russia’s spy agency accused Britain and France of secretly plotting to hand Ukraine a nuclear “wonder weapon”.
In a wild statement, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said: “Britain and France realise that the developments in Ukraine leave no chance of achieving their much-desired victory over Russia at the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“However, the British and French elites are not prepared to accept defeat. It is believed that Ukraine needs to be equipped with “wunderwaffe”.
“Kyiv would be able to claim more favourable terms for ending the hostilities if it possessed a nuclear bomb, or at least a so-called “dirty bomb”.”
No evidence was provided, with British and French officials dismissing the claim as a lie.
The bluster comes as Western sources say
Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, more than 50,000 of Putin’s soldiers have reportedly deserted.
Over four years of slaughter, Moscow’s forces have seen a staggering toll of 1.25 million troops killed or injured.
Yet instead of backing down, Russia unleashed 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine overnight, including 11 ballistic missiles, hammering homes and critical infrastructure across eight regions.
Dozens, including children, were injured.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha blasted the terror, saying: “When the whole world demands Moscow to finally stop this senseless war, Putin bets on more terror, attacks and aggression.”
The chaos spilled across Nato’s borders overnight.
Posting on X at 4am UTC, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command wrote: “Attention. In connection with another massive attack by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine in recent times, conducted using air assault means, the operation of Polish and allied aviation has commenced in our airspace.”
Two hours later it confirmed aircraft had stood down and air defences returned to normal readiness.
Meanwhile, US-brokered talks grind on in Geneva, with envoys for President Donald Trump pushing to end the war now entering its fifth year.
Volodymyr Zelensky also warned that Putin must be stopped .
From his headquarters in Kyiv, and on the eve of the war’s anniversary, the president argued that only intense military and economic pressure would end it.
The 800ft-long Charles de Gaulle is the only nuclear-powered carrier outside the US NavyCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
It comes as Putin continues to batter Ukraine with strikes as the war carries onCredit: AFP
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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