Illegal drone incursions over nuclear power stations and UK military bases have risen to almost three a week as tensions with Russia continue to intensify.
The number of unmanned aircraft spotted over critical infrastructure and sensitive security sites since January has already exceeded the combined total recorded during the previous two years.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) told The Mail on Sunday that 100 incidents involving nuclear facilities or nuclear-related assets, including submarines, were reported between January and August this year.
That compares with 69 such incidents throughout 2025 and 47 in 2024. In 2020, the figure was just 18.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security expert at the University of Buckingham, said it was “common sense” to suspect Russia was behind the increase.
“The obvious explanation for the increase in drone spying of our nuclear facilities is to gain intelligence useful to an enemy planning an attack on the UK, which would be the harbinger of a general war in Europe against Nato,” he said.
Although Professor Glees identified Russia as the most likely force behind the activity, he said China and Iran could also be involved as they assess Britain’s ability to protect itself.
The latest figures follow a report earlier this year alleging that Russia had been conducting surveillance of Britain’s nuclear weapons.
Faslane nuclear base in Scotland, home to the UK’s nuclear submarines
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said drones had targeted RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk over four days in 2024.
The drones were reportedly launched from the Kremlin-linked spy ship HAV Dolphin, which was seen off the Humberside coast at the time.
The security operation prompted the deployment of specialist British troops to the bases to intercept the Russian surveillance drones.
Professor Glees said some drones were launched from ships, but there were also suspicions that Russia and Iran were using “human agents” to deploy them.
He said those agents could include British citizens paid to betray their own country. “We don’t think they have any ideological attachment to Putin’s regime,” he added.
The 100 nuclear-related incursions form part of 340 drone security incidents recorded at or near Ministry of Defence sites across the UK in the year to August 2026.
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Military chiefs have declined to disclose how many incidents took place at each type of site or involving each type of asset. They have also withheld figures relating specifically to Scotland, where the Faslane naval base houses Britain’s nuclear deterrent, warning that releasing the information could threaten national security.
Launching the IISS report earlier this year, the think tank’s security expert Charlie Edwards said: “Russia has demonstrated, repeatedly, that it can penetrate the airspace of NATO members – including over nuclear sites – without triggering a collective allied response.
“That gap between capability and political will is now a strategic vulnerability.”
The criticism comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces pressure over plans to invite Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Manchester. Ministers do not expect Putin to attend in person, fearing British courts could uphold an International Criminal Court warrant seeking his arrest over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Opponents have warned that allowing a senior Russian delegation to visit the UK would suggest relations were being normalised and give the Kremlin a significant propaganda victory.
Russia is known to use a variety of drones in its surveillance operations
A UK Government spokesman said Russian participation in G20 meetings is ‘regrettable’ but added that it is a matter for member states who represents them at summits.
Last month, it emerged Mr Burnham was warned that Britain faces Russian retaliation over its support for Ukraine.
Security experts have told the PM to be prepared for a ‘direct response’ from Putin.
Discussing what steps the UK should take to counter the threat, Professor Glees said: ‘Andy Burnham should say, loud and clear, that from now on, any Russian ship launching drones to overfly sensitive UK military and defence industry sites will be destroyed.’
He suggested tactics such as anti-drone nets, which Russia is using over its refineries, could also be used as well as jamming them electronically.
He added: ‘We are facing a real and present national security threat and it is time Defence Secretary Wes Streeting stopped talking nice. He needs to call these incursions out for what they are, hostile spy operations, and act hard and fast to stop them.’
An MOD spokesperson said: ‘We take the rising threat posed by hostile drones extremely seriously.
‘We are committing £790 million to strengthen protection from drone and missile threats and have established new restricted airspace areas over 44 critical defence sites, extending to over 160 further sites in the autumn.’