The Russian Embassy in Sweden reported a fresh drone attack on its diplomatic compound in Stockholm early on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of incidents targeting the mission.
According to a statement posted on the embassy’s Telegram channel, two unmanned aerial vehicles struck the premises around 2 a.m. local time on July 2. One quadcopter dropped a container filled with red paint onto the embassy grounds, while a second drone, carrying a dummy improvised explosive device (IED), crashed apparently intentionally onto the property near the main embassy building.
The embassy described the event as “another attack” and condemned it as “an open attempt to intimidate” its staff. It placed full responsibility on Swedish authorities for failing to ensure the security of the diplomatic mission.
“The second drone, to which an imitation of an improvised explosive device was attached, fell (apparently not by accident) on our territory in the immediate vicinity of the Russian Embassy building,” the statement read.
This incident echoes a previous drone incursion in November 2024, when an unidentified drone dropped paint on the embassy grounds. Russian officials have repeatedly accused Sweden of inadequate protection for the mission, claiming more than a dozen similar provocations since then.
Swedish authorities have not yet issued a detailed public response to Thursday’s events. Police and security services are expected to investigate the breach of restricted airspace around the diplomatic compound.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for a thorough and impartial probe, urging that those responsible be identified and held accountable. Tensions between Russia and Sweden have remained elevated amid broader geopolitical strains related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Sweden’s NATO membership.
No injuries were reported in the latest attack, and the dummy explosive device did not detonate or cause damage beyond its impact upon crashing. Embassy staff documented the scene with photographs of the drones and debris, which were shared via official channels.
