Irish police investigating after drone sightings during Zelenskyy visit

Irish police are investigating the presence of drones during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Ireland.

Mr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska arrived in Dublin late on Monday night, with local media reporting that several unidentified drones were seen flying over the Irish Sea, at around the time the Ukrainian president arrived at Dublin Airport.

Ireland's police service said: "A Garda Siochana's Special Detective Unit (SDU) is investigating this matter.

"As part of this, SDU will be liaising with the defence forces and international security partners."

Mr Zelenskyy was in Ireland to meet with government figures, Catherine Connolly, the new Irish president, and to address a joint sitting of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament).

Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov said it was "hard to make sense of the visit" beyond it representing "the ever-present desire of the Irish government to show loyalty to the EU anti-Russian policy line on Ukraine".

Mr Martin dismissed the ambassador's comments and said Mr Filatov had a "track record" of attacking him and the government "on a consistent basis".

"We're very, very clear: The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was a fundamental, brutal violation of the United Nations Charter, and no power can behave in such a manner," he added.

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The incident comes amid a string of drone sightings across Europe at airports and military bases.

In November, the UK revealed it was deploying a specialist Royal Air Force team to help defend Belgium's skies following a series of sightings of "rogue" drones in the country.