Unidentified drones have been sighted over multiple Danish military installations, including the country’s largest base, in the latest incident that officials have described as a “hybrid attack.” The episodes have fueled speculation about possible Russian involvement, though Copenhagen has yet to provide evidence.
Police confirmed that “one to two drones” were observed on Thursday evening near and above the Karup airbase, Denmark’s largest military facility. The base is home to all of the Danish Armed Forces’ helicopters, airspace surveillance units, flight school, and parts of the defence command. It also shares runways with Midtjylland Airport, which briefly suspended operations as a precaution, though no flights were affected.
“We didn’t take them down,” police spokesman Simon Skelkjaer told reporters, adding that the origin of the drones remained unknown. He said police were cooperating closely with the Danish military in the investigation.
The Defence Ministry confirmed drones were detected over “several military sites,” but withheld further details. Recent days have seen a series of drone sightings across Denmark, including over airports, prompting temporary closures. Similar incidents have been reported in Norway, Poland, Romania, and Estonia, raising regional security concerns against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Thursday that Denmark had “been the victim of hybrid attacks,” a form of unconventional warfare designed to destabilize societies. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen echoed that assessment, describing the incursions as “the work of a professional actor.”
Frederiksen went further, directly pointing to Moscow. “There is one main country that poses a threat to Europe’s security, and it is Russia,” she said.
The Kremlin has rejected the allegations. Russia’s embassy in Copenhagen dismissed the claims as “a staged provocation” and denied any involvement.
Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard suggested earlier this week that the attacks were intended “to spread fear, create division and frighten us.” The incidents come just days after Denmark announced it would acquire long-range precision weapons for the first time, citing Russia as a long-term security threat. Authorities also said they plan to strengthen anti-drone defenses, including new detection and neutralization technologies.
At the European level, defence ministers from around ten EU countries have agreed to prioritize the creation of a so-called “drone wall” to counter potential threats. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said Europe must act quickly, drawing lessons from Ukraine’s experience under frequent drone attacks. “We need to move fast,” he said.
Copenhagen is preparing to host an EU summit next week, with leaders from across the bloc expected to attend. To safeguard the gathering, Denmark has accepted Sweden’s offer to deploy its anti-drone technology, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the threat.
