Russian Embassy in Sweden Says It Was ‘Attacked’ by Drones

July 2, 2026 A drone that the Russian Embassy in Sweden said fell onto its premises. @rusembswe / Telegram Russia’s Embassy in Sweden said Thursday it was “attacked” by two drones overnight and blamed Swedish authorities for failing to ensure security at the diplomatic mission. The embassy said one drone dropped a container filled with red paint onto its grounds at around 2 a.m. local time. “A second drone, which had a fake improvised explosive device attached to it, crashed (most likely intentionally) onto our property in the immediate vicinity of the embassy building,” it said. The Russian mission condemned what it called “more than just a simple provocation, but a blatant attempt to intimidate the staff of the Russian mission.” “To that we’ll say quite frankly: it won’t work,” the Russian embassy wrote on Telegram. Photos shared by the embassy showed a quadcopter drone and what appears to be a plastic bag or container nearby on the pavement covered in red paint. Russia’s embassy accused Swedish law enforcement of doing “little more than filing formal reports” into “dozens” of similar acts of vandalism that have been recorded in recent years. Similar attacks on Russian diplomatic property in Sweden have been reported since at least 2024. In Thursday’s statement, the Russian Embassy in Stockholm said investigations into the previous incidents have yielded zero results. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously suggested that Swedish authorities may have “authorized” the drone incidents on Russian diplomatic property in the country. Read more about: Sweden , Drones , Foreign Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Summons Japan’s Ambassador Over Ukraine Drone Deal Terra Drone Corporation said last week that it would make a “strategic investment” in Amazing Drones, a Kharkiv-based firm that develops and manufactures... 1 Min read Kremlin Rejects Swedish Claim It Launched Drone Near French Aircraft Carrier Stockholm said a Swedish navy vessel spotted and jammed the drone on Wednesday in the Oresund Strait, around 13 kilometers from France's Charles de Gaulle... 1 Min read Swedish PM Says Russia Likely Behind Airport Drones Still, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed that "nobody really, really knows" who is behind the mysterious drone flights. 2 Min read Moscow Vows Response to Sweden's NATO Accession Stockholm dropped years of military non-alignment when it applied for NATO membership in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 1 Min read