Combining exclusive sourcing and reporting with creative data visualization, Europe Security Correspondent Emma Burrows and Interactive Artist Will Jarrett explained how Russia is believed to be using vessels from its so-called shadow fleet to launch drones into European airspace, monitor military sites, disrupt civilian aviation and probe NATO defenses. Based on her reporting on Russia’s sabotage campaign across Europe, the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London offered Burrows advance access to their research, including hour-by-hour shadow fleet ship tracking data. Burrows identified key incidents and reporting threads and, with Jarrett, established exactly when one suspicious ship was intercepted and boarded by French authorities. Jarrett created an interactive map of the drones and shadow vessels, animating the movement of drones, and two static graphics. Burrows also secured exclusive interviews with NATO’s deputy supreme commander and Sweden’s permanent military representative to NATO, as well as other officials to corroborate the research findings. IISS described AP’s work as “superb” and the graphics as “super.”
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