Danish authorities took swift action, temporarily shutting down several airports, including a key military facility, after unidentified drones were observed during the night. A government official condemned the drone activity as a deliberate attempt to instill fear across the nation.
Specifically, Aalborg Airport, a dual-purpose commercial and military hub, endured a multi-hour shutdown. Billund Airport, Denmark’s second-busiest, also faced a temporary closure due to unconfirmed drone reports. Further incidents included sightings near two southern airports and an air base housing Danish fighter jets, according to police statements.
The origin and operators of these drones remain shrouded in mystery. However, these incidents unfold during a period of heightened vigilance across Europe. Recent weeks have seen Russian aircraft encroach upon the airspace of Poland, Estonia, and Romania. European officials and analysts largely attribute these provocations, often termed ‘hybrid’ or ‘gray-zone warfare,’ to Russia’s deliberate strategy to antagonize and destabilize various nations.
Just this week, Copenhagen Airport, Denmark’s largest, also experienced closures due to drone sightings. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen characterized that incident as the ‘most serious attack so far’ on the nation’s vital infrastructure. While she didn’t dismiss Russian involvement, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated it was premature to identify the perpetrators. Rutte later confirmed on Thursday that he and Frederiksen had discussed the situation again, emphasizing that NATO views these events with extreme seriousness.
The Kremlin has refuted any suggestions of Russian involvement in the Copenhagen Airport drone incident. Furthermore, its embassy in Denmark explicitly denied participation in the most recent sightings, labeling the entire episode a ‘staged provocation.’
During a press conference following the Danish airport sightings, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged that the government ‘could not definitively conclude’ Russian involvement in these latest events. However, he also stressed that it ‘could not be ruled out,’ considering the current volatile security landscape in Europe.
Poulsen clarified that while these attacks don’t pose an immediate military threat, they starkly highlight Denmark’s susceptibility to hybrid warfare tactics and infrastructure sabotage. He indicated that a ‘professional actor’ was behind this incident, describing it as ‘a systematic operation, with systematic navigation across several locations simultaneously.’
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard reiterated the clear objective of these actions: ‘The aim of these are to create fear, division and make us feel afraid.’
Poulsen confirmed that the Danish government is in communication with its NATO allies and is contemplating invoking Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty. This article is typically activated when a member state seeks a formal discussion about a perceived threat to its national security. Poland previously invoked it after over 20 Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace on September 9 and 10.
Police are collaborating closely with the Danish Security and Intelligence Service and the armed forces in their ongoing investigation into the incident.
These recent drone incidents precede a crucial meeting of European defense ministers on Friday, where the response to drones as instruments of warfare will be a key agenda item. Poulsen stated his intention to attend this meeting, spurred by this week’s incursions. Additionally, European leaders are slated to convene in Copenhagen next month to deliberate strategies for strengthening mutual defense and bolstering support for Ukraine.
Flemming Splidsboel Hansen, a researcher specializing in hybrid warfare and post-Soviet Russia, observed that these sightings expose Denmark’s susceptibility to covert operations targeting its economy, infrastructure, and even public information through disinformation.
Hansen noted that Russia has recently been ‘testing opportunities to antagonize’ the European Union, seemingly pushing boundaries to see how far it can go without significant repercussions, especially as the United States appears to be focusing more internally.
He added, ‘Before, if they entered this opportunity space, they would quickly run straight into a U.S. concrete wall. Russia now perceives a new window of opportunity, and they are actively trying to explore and expand it.’
The issue of drones operating near airports has emerged as a significant and growing threat in recent years. For example, in December 2018, drone activity over a runway at London’s Gatwick Airport led to the disruption of hundreds of flights. The following month, all incoming flights to Newark Liberty International Airport were halted after pilots reported a drone in the vicinity.
Additional reporting by Amelia Nierenberg.