Denmark accuses Russia of a hybrid war, suspends drone flights

At a press conference in Copenhagen, the Director of the Danish Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Thomas Achrenkiel stated that Russia is exerting hybrid pressure to sow distrust within NATO and weaken Western aid to Kyiv. According to him, the unidentified drones observed over air basins in the country in recent weeks are being assessed as part of this strategy.

Due to drone activity, the airports of Copenhagen and Olborg temporarily suspended operations, and airspace for civilian drones was also restricted. During investigations involving police and military personnel, the operator was not identified, but the sequence of incidents suggests they were state-sponsored.

Ahrengiel described hybrid war as "pressure from below the borders of armed conflict," citing methods such as cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage, and drone flights near facilities. He also recalled that in some cases, provocative maneuvers were recorded at sea against Danish ships.

At the same time, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that he does not agree with the opinion that the country is "moving towards war" and that there is no direct military threat. He added that the investigation into the incidents is ongoing, but there is currently no definitive evidence regarding the perpetrators.

On the eve of the EU summit, similar drone incidents were recorded in several European countries, and the shutdown of some airports caused general concern. Security measures have been strengthened in Copenhagen, and cooperation with allies on anti-drone systems is being established.

According to official Copenhagen's statement, the purpose of such pressure is to escalate disagreements among the allies, reduce aid to Ukraine, and slow down strategic decisions. The Danish side aims to respond not on the front lines, but in the legal, technical, and diplomatic spheres.