Russia's Medvedev says drone disruption is a useful reminder to Europeans of danger of war

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that it remained a mystery who was behind a wave of drone disruption in various European countries, but that the incidents served as a useful reminder to Europeans of the dangers of war.

Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, played down the theory that recent disruption, including to airport traffic in Germany and Denmark, was the result of any actions connected to Russia or forces sympathising with it.

"People who sympathise with our country (in Europe) will not waste their resources by coming out of hiding. Our 'agents and moles' are waiting for a separate order," Medvedev wrote on his official Telegram channel.

Medvedev, who has built a reputation for himself as an outspoken anti-Western hawk, said the main thing, regardless of who was responsible, was that European citizens had got a taste of what a war could mean for their continent, something he accused French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of stoking for political and financial reasons.

"The main thing is that short-sighted Europeans feel the danger of war on their own skin. That they fear and tremble like dumb animals in a herd being driven to slaughter," said Medvedev, who said he hoped people might then turn on Merz and Macron.

European talk of using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian arms purchases along with talk of shooting down Russian planes which stray into European airspace and plans to assemble "a drone wall" have angered Russian government officials who have repeatedly said they have no intention to attack any NATO member state despite claims to the contrary.

(Reporting by Andrew OsbornEditing by Guy Faulconbridge)