Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using the so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers to launch and operate drones targeting European countries amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, citing intelligence reports.

Zelenskyy made the comments during his evening address, calling for additional sanctions to be implemented on Russia’s shadow fleet, amid the drone threats.

“This week, we expect decisions from Europe on such pressure – at the very least, there should be a new sanctions package, the 19th package,” Zelenskyy said. “It is especially important that sanctions hit painfully at Russia’s energy trade and the entire infrastructure of Russia’s tanker fleet.”

The Ukrainian leader called on allies to close the Baltic Sea and other seas to Russian tankers, or at the very least its “shadow fleet” used to evade international sanctions.

“We also count on strong steps from the United States. We discussed with President Trump what could truly push Russia to change its position and stop the war. The world has tools that can work in a genuinely peace-making way.”

The comments come after a spate of incidents in which Europe’s borders and airports have been tested by rogue drones.

Sweden is sending radars and military anti-drone systems to Denmark ahead of the high-level European Council meeting in Copenhagen this week.

Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson announced Monday in a post on X that his government had deployed “the Swedish Armed Forces to support Denmark with military anti-drone capabilities in connection with this week’s summits in Copenhagen.”

Stockholm would also “lend a handful of powerful radar systems to Denmark for a period of time,” he added.

France is also sending reinforcements to contribute to Denmark’s security as the country gets ready to host a European Council meeting and a meeting of the European Political Community.

In the last two weeks, Europe has witnessed mysterious drone sightings that crippled operations at major airports.

Several unexplained sightings of drones over civilian airports and a military base were reported in Denmark last week.

While Danish officials have been cautious not to directly accuse Russia without conclusive evidence, they have not ruled out the possibility. Copenhagen Airport, Denmark’s biggest airport, was closed for several hours on Monday, September 22, as 2-3 large drones have been seen flying in the area. Other smaller Danish airports were also temporarily closed in the following days.

In response to the growing crisis, Denmark’s officials characterised the drone activity as part of a “hybrid attack” targeting the country.

Recent incidents involving drones are becoming more frequent directly putting a spotlight on critical vulnerabilities in Europe’s air defence systems.

European diplomats have now privately warned Moscow that further incursions into Nato airspace would be met with full force.

The next European Political Community Summit will take place this week in Denmark, with the drone security threat likely to be high on their agenda. As Zelenskyy reported, he held a phone conversation with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen.

The parties paid particular attention to the situation with drones that have been spotted in Danish airspace last week.

The Kremlin denies involvement in the drone incursion.