PRESIDENT OF THE European Council António Costa has said that Russia was responsible for the drones in Irish airspace during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland last week. 

Costa, who was in Dublin today for a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, told reporters this afternoon that last week’s incident is “another example of the hybrid attacks from Russia” in European territory. 

“It’s not new, but in all these EU countries we are managing now with these threats,” Costa said at a joint press conference with the Taoiseach.

Last week, The Journal revealed that four unidentified military-style drones breached a no-fly zone and flew towards the flight path of Zelenskyy’s plane at sea near Dublin Airport as he arrived in Ireland on Monday night. 

Costa’s comments today come after the Russian Embassy in Ireland denied any involvement in the incident. 

Asked about the drones last week in Irish airspace during Zelenskyy’s visit, President of the European Council António Costa has said Russia was responsible and that it was “another example of the hybrid attacks from Russia”.@thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/KYRinWv4zJ

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) December 9, 2025

In a statement to TG4′s 7LÁ, the embassy said: “All we have seen is rumours and innuendo. We categorically reject any attempt to portray this incident in the terms of a so-called possible Russian involvement – there is absolutely no basis to that”.

Asked about this statement today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he “simply” does not share the view of the Russian embassy. 

“I would remind people that this is the same ambassador who assured us, in 2022 that Russia had no plans to invade, and we saw how that worked out,” the Taoiseach said.

The Taoiseach said he agreed with Costa’s assessment that the drone incident fits in with an “established pattern of similar disruptive incidents that have taken place in the European states”. 

Costa has been President of the European Council since December 2024. 

The president of the European Council presides over and drives forward the work of the European Council, which is made up of the heads of state or governments of EU member states, on the world stage.

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