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NATO intercepts Russian drone heading for French aircraft carrier in 'serious security' incident

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A Russian drone approached the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
A Russian drone approached the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Picture: Getty

By Asher McShane

A Russian drone was intercepted near a French aircraft carrier in a ‘serious’ security incident in Sweden.

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The drone was intercepted as it neared the Charles de Gaulle carrier which was docked in Malmö.

The French naval flagship was in the port as part of a strategic exercise.

The drone is understood to have been launched off a nearby Russian ship.

Swedish forces identified the threat and launched a jamming operation, and the drone disappeared.

Russia’s spy agency accused Britain and France of secretly plotting to give Ukraine nuclear weapons earlier this week.

Read more: Britain's nuclear submarine base sees ten-times more security breaches since Russian invasion of Ukraine

Read more: Britain is sleepwalking into vulnerability: Without urgent defence investment, we risk learning Ukraine’s lessons the hard way

Workers clear debris after the overnight air attack in Kharkiv
Workers clear debris after the overnight air attack in Kharkiv. Picture: Getty

And a leading defence expert warned today that Britain is “sleepwalking into vulnerability”.

Andriy Dovbenko, Founder of UK-Ukraine TechExchange Britain is moving too slowly to bolster its own defence and security, despite being one of Ukraine’s closest allies and increasingly framed by the Kremlin as a principal adversary.

Russia launched a barrage of 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as US and Ukrainian envoys prepare to hold more talks in Geneva on ending the war that is now in its fifth year.

A house was destroyed after a Russian mass missile and drone attack on February 22
A house was destroyed after a Russian mass missile and drone attack on February 22. Picture: Getty

The nighttime bombardment, which included 11 ballistic missiles, targeted critical infrastructure and residential areas across eight regions of Ukraine, Mr Zelenskyy said.

Dozens of people, including children, were injured, officials said, although authorities did not immediately publish a confirmed total.

Mr Zelenskyy said late on Wednesday that he had spoken by phone with US President Donald Trump and thanked him for his "efforts and engagement" in pursuing peace negotiations.

The US-brokered talks between Moscow and Kyiv are continuing but are deadlocked on the issue of the future of Ukrainian territory that Russia claims as its own.