Holidaymakers on alert as Putin ‘plots drone strikes’ on Mediterranean hotspots

The countries support Ukraine in the war against Russia

Holidaymakers in countries like Spain, France and Italy are now on alert as the attacks could be carried out on the Mediterranean countries from merchant ships out at sea.

Spanish outlet El Mundo reported that the strikes could involve Gerbera drones, and they a have a range of 600km.

What makes the drones more alarming is that they can reach speeds of up to 160kmh.

The remains of a Russian-made, inexpensive decoy drone made of foam and wood, known as a Gerbera, in Kharkiv in Ukraine in July 2026. Credit: Getty Images

A source close to Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence told the Spanish newspaper that “they will use drones launched from the sea and hidden in cargo containers”.

Meanwhile, British analyst Keir Giles told the outlet that Spain being located at the other end of the continent from Russia does not guarantee its security.

Giles, who worked for the UK Defence Academy and specialises in Russian military strategy, said: “It's not necessarily the frontline countries that will be targeted.”

Why the three countries in the Mediterranean could be a target for Putin

It all comes down to one thing which these countries and Britain have in common.

The three Mediterranean countries, like the UK, supply military assistance to Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

“The target will be wherever Europe's weakest point is”, he said, adding that among these weak points are countries “like the UK or Spain, which have not invested in integrated air and missile defence systems adequate to the Russian threat.”

However, no specific targets were named by the source quoted by El Mundo.

Meanwhile in Odesa, a major seaport in Ukraine located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea, Putin’s forces have regularly terrorised beachgoers.

The latest warnings from tourists regarding Spain, France and Italy as possible locations for drone strikes come amid warnings from Western intelligence officials.

They said that Russia could stage limited attacks on NATO states not in years, but months.

Russia has already violated the airspace of several NATO countries such as Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Latvia, as well as Moldova.