By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:00 BST, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 11:17 BST, 3 October 2025
A Russian shadow fleet ship that was raided by French troops may be linked to at least nine drone attacks on European targets, including airports. The Boracay, an 18-year-old crude oil tanker that sails under the flag of Benin, was raided by French authorities earlier this week after it dropped anchor near the western city of Saint Nazaire. Two senior crew members - who presented themselves as the ship's captain and his first mate - were arrested and taken into custody, though they have reportedly been released and are now sailing the vessel to the Suez Canal. An analysis of the Boracay's path across the Baltic Sea shows it sailed near a string of drone incursions across northern Europe, after leaving the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20. Data analysed by the Telegraph showed it was just 50 nautical miles away from Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 22 when drones brought the city's main airport to a total standstill. The Boracay was then seen sailing around Denmark's northern top before sailing down towards Germany's northwest coast between September 23 and 25. During those days, drones sightings forced four more Danish airports to close down, while in Germany drones were also spotted near key infrastructure. German authorities claimed the drones were spying on a power plant, a military shipyard, a key shipping canal, a hospital and the regional parliament. This aerial picture taken on October 1, 2025 off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire shows French soldiers onboard the tanker from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' suspected of being involved in drone flights across the EU
