German police said they have launched an investigation into suspected Russian espionage after drones were spotted over several military installations in Bavaria.
In the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine, it cannot be ruled out that German military installations and defense companies are being spied on by drones, the Bavarian State Criminal Investigation Office said.
The latest incident occurred late Sunday, when a drone was spotted over a military base near Manning, police said, referring to a vast facility where German forces test new manned and unmanned aircraft.
Drones on this base were also seen over three days in December, according to police.
Another unauthorized flight occurred that same month over a military installation in Neuburg an der Donau.
Germany's federal police, the Bundeskriminalamt, warned companies in December that they may have Russian saboteurs among their employees and contractors.
Russia denied these accusations.
The head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, Bruno Kahl, said last month that Russia's acts of sabotage against Western targets could prompt NATO to invoke Article 5 of the defense treaty.
According to this article, if a NATO member is attacked, other members of the alliance are obligated to help it respond.