Denmark is facing its most serious security challenge in years after a string of drone incursions disrupted operations at airports and military bases, prompting authorities to raise alert levels to their highest in a decade.
While the government has stopped short of naming a culprit, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that the events resemble hybrid attacks, linking them to Russia’s broader attempts to destabilize Europe.
Moscow has denied any involvement.
Repeated drone sightings near critical infrastructure
The latest incident occurred late Friday when one or two drones breached the airspace over Karup airport, Denmark’s largest air force facility.
According to broadcaster TV2, armed forces deployed “several capacities” to counter the drones, though further details were withheld.
The drones did not interfere with commercial flights, as Karup’s civilian operations are limited.
The Karup incident followed a series of drone sightings earlier in the week.
Copenhagen Airport—the Nordic region’s busiest—was forced to shut for several hours on Monday after large drones entered its airspace.
Five smaller airports, both civilian and military, were also temporarily closed.
Aalborg airport was shut down late Thursday, leading to canceled flights, though no drones were ultimately confirmed in that case.
Police reported receiving more than 500 drone-related calls in a single 24-hour period, though many turned out to be false alarms.
In one case, what was believed to be a drone over Billund airport was later identified as a bright star. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of reports underscores the heightened state of alert.
Hybrid attacks and regional security concerns
Prime Minister Frederiksen described the events as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date” and urged citizens to prepare for further hybrid threats, including sabotage, cyberattacks, and undersea cable disruptions.
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen characterized the incursions as “hybrid attacks with different types of drones.”
The incidents are not limited to Denmark. Poland, Estonia, and Romania have also reported airspace violations this month, fueling suspicions that Russia is probing NATO defenses.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Bloomberg TV that the activity could be a deliberate attempt by President Vladimir Putin to test Western resolve.
While Denmark has refrained from invoking NATO’s Article 4, which could trigger coordinated allied action, officials have consulted closely with European partners.
Sweden has offered to provide anti-drone capabilities to strengthen Danish defenses ahead of a summit in Copenhagen next week, where European leaders will discuss hybrid warfare and security responses.
Economic and political stakes
The drone incidents come as Denmark deepens its support for Ukraine, recently pledging a 2.7 billion-krone ($423 million) aid package to bolster Kyiv’s defense industry.
Copenhagen has also purchased long-range missile systems capable of striking targets in Russia.
Analysts suggest these moves may have made Denmark a target for hybrid retaliation.
At home, the government is facing criticism over its handling of the incursions, with questions raised about why unauthorized drones were able to operate undisturbed for hours.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service has assessed the risk of espionage and sabotage as “high,” noting similarities to hybrid warfare seen elsewhere in Europe.
Authorities are now exploring a “drone wall” initiative with EU partners, aimed at developing advanced detection and interception systems along the bloc’s eastern flank.
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