BREAKING NEWS: Shock Interception of Russian Grey Fleet 'Drone' Ship

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1 Oct 2025  Silicon Bites - Summary of key news & events

Edition No250 | 01-10-2025 - There has been a dramatic maritime showdown involving a grey fleet oil tanker, with shocking implications for Russia’s hybrid warfare in Western Europe’s backyard. French forces have just boarded a tanker tied to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” suspected of launching drones over Denmark. Moscow fired back, calling the move “provocative.” We’ll trace how these fits into a larger pattern: drone incursions, hybrid escalation, and Russia’s threats towards Europe.

Let’s start with the facts as they’re known. In late September 2025, multiple drone incursions over Danish airspace triggered disruptions at airports in Copenhagen and Aalborg. The flights were mysterious, unauthorized, and widely suspected to be part of a hybrid operation by Russia, though Moscow denied direct involvement. (Le Monde.fr)

Around October 1, French authorities moved in. The oil tanker known as Boracay (formerly Pushpa among other aliases) — flagged under Benin but with opaque ownership ties — was boarded by French military personnel off the coast near Saint-Nazaire. (The Guardian)