Drones have been seen near military facilities including Denmark’s largest, following a series of incidents that caused air disruption earlier this week.
The devices were observed above Karup airbase, among others, forcing it to briefly close its airspace to commercial traffic. Possible sightings were also reported in Germany, Norway, and Lithuania.
The recent drone activity in Denmark has raised significant concerns about the nation's vulnerability to aerial attacks, leading to fears of potential Russian involvement.
Danish authorities indicated that the incursions appear to be part of a hybrid attack strategy, although they lack concrete evidence to implicate Moscow directly.
On Friday evening around 20:15 local time, sightings lasted several hours, according to duty officer Simon Skelsjaer. The police could not determine the origin of the drones as they had not been shot down but confirmed they are working in cooperation with Danish military forces on the investigation.
Despite the temporary closure of civil airspace above Karup airbase, it did not impact scheduled flights at the time.
Approximately 3,500 personnel work at Karup airbase, which accommodates all of Denmark's helicopters and plays a crucial role in airspace surveillance and defense command.
Over the past week, multiple airports across Denmark have faced similar disruptions due to drone sightings, including a significant incident at Copenhagen airport on Monday that forced it to close for several hours.
The situation has led to suspicions that this wave of drone incursion forms part of a broader strategy of indirect aggression attributed to Russia, particularly against NATO members supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with the nation.
The Russian embassy in Copenhagen labeled the speculations regarding its involvement as "absurd," denying any contribution to what it described as staged provocations.
Danish Defense Minister commented that this hybrid attack was likely enacted by a "professional actor," insinuating that the origins of the attacks could be local.
Hybrid attacks utilize a mixture of military and non-military tactics targeting a nation's critical infrastructure or institutions. In the past, Russia has been accused of executing similar attacks, and Europe is currently on high alert following several recorded Russian incursions in NATO airspaces.
With escalating tensions, neighboring nations Estonia and Poland have also sought consultations regarding their security as they report recent incursions by Russian drones and planes.
In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen hinted that Russian involvement cannot be ignored amid these rising concerns, a sentiment echoed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
