Denmark has found itself at the epicenter of a growing security storm as it prepares to host crucial European Union summits this week. In a move that has captured headlines across the continent, the Danish government has imposed a sweeping ban on all civilian drone flights from Monday, September 29, through Friday, October 3, 2025. This unprecedented measure follows a spate of mysterious drone sightings over military installations and airports, which have rattled the nation and prompted a flurry of international responses.
The trouble began last week, when several unexplained drone incursions were reported above Danish military sites and civilian airports. According to BBC, these incidents forced the temporary closure of major travel hubs, including Copenhagen Airport, which was shut down for nearly four hours on Monday, September 22. The disruptions did not end there; five smaller Danish airports, both civilian and military, were also forced to suspend operations in the days that followed. The chaos upended travel plans for tens of thousands of people and raised urgent questions about the source and intent of the drone activity.
In response, Denmark's Ministry of Defence announced that it had “several capacities deployed” after the latest drone sightings, though officials declined to provide specifics about the deployments or the number of drones involved. The country’s Defence Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, made the stakes clear: “We are currently in a difficult security situation, and we must ensure the best possible working conditions for the armed forces and the police when they are responsible for security during the EU summit.”
The ban on civilian drones is designed to eliminate any risk of hostile drones being mistaken for legal ones—or vice versa—during this tense period. The Danish Ministry of Transportation was blunt in its assessment: “We cannot accept that foreign drones create uncertainty and disturbances in society, as we have experienced recently. At the same time, Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security,” Minister Thomas Danielsen stated. The ministry also warned that violations of the ban could result in fines or imprisonment for up to two years.
Denmark’s decisive action comes as the country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, and as it prepares to host two high-profile gatherings: a European Council meeting on defense and Ukraine on Wednesday, October 1, followed by a summit of the wider, 47-member European Political Community on Thursday, October 2. With European leaders and dignitaries converging on Copenhagen, the spotlight is firmly on Danish security measures.
The situation has not gone unnoticed by Denmark’s allies. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson pledged military anti-drone capabilities and “powerful radar systems” to support Denmark during the summit, according to BBC. France, too, has stepped up, deploying a specialist helicopter and a team of 35 experts to bolster Danish defenses. Germany has contributed “Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems” that use radar, optical, and acoustic technology to detect drones, and a German air defense frigate, FSG Hamburg, arrived in Copenhagen on Sunday, September 28, to help monitor the skies during the EU events, as reported by CNN.
The broader context is equally concerning. Europe has been on high alert in recent weeks following multiple reports of Russian drones crossing into NATO airspace over Poland and Romania, as well as Russian MiG-31 fighter jets allegedly violating Estonian airspace. Estonia and Poland have both requested consultations with NATO, and the alliance has responded by upgrading its Baltic Sea mission with enhanced vigilance and new assets, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, and at least one air-defense frigate. The “Baltic Sentry” mission, launched in January 2025 to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, is now joined by the “Eastern Sentry” mission, which aims to strengthen defenses on Europe’s eastern flank.
The Danish government has described the recent drone activity as a “hybrid attack” and a “systematic operation,” language that underscores the seriousness with which officials are treating the threat. While Danish investigators have not yet been able to identify those responsible, suspicion has inevitably fallen on Russia. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been forthright, stating, “We can at least conclude that there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that is Russia.”
Yet, the Kremlin has firmly denied any involvement. At the United Nations on Saturday, September 27, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pushed back against Western accusations, saying, “Russia is being accused of almost planning to attack NATO and EU countries. President [Vladimir] Putin has repeatedly debunked these provocations.” The Russian embassy in Denmark similarly rejected claims of Moscow’s involvement last week.
Meanwhile, the wave of drone-related anxiety is not confined to Denmark. Norway and Romania both reported separate drone incidents over the weekend, with Norwegian airport operator Avinor investigating drone activity above Bronnoysund Airport and possible sightings near Norway’s largest military base. In Romania, flights were diverted in Bucharest after a drone was spotted in the airspace above the capital’s airport. Responding to these developments, Romania passed new legislation earlier in September 2025 to give air force pilots greater authority to shoot down unidentified aircraft and drones.
In the face of these challenges, European defense ministers from ten EU countries have agreed to create a “drone wall” to better protect against unauthorized aerial incursions. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has acknowledged that Russian involvement in the Danish drone incidents “could not be ruled out,” though he stopped short of making a definitive accusation.
For Denmark, the coming week will be a test of its ability to safeguard not only its own airspace but also the security of the broader European community. The ban on civilian drones is just one piece of a rapidly evolving security puzzle—one that now involves multinational cooperation, upgraded military hardware, and a vigilant watch over the skies. As the EU summit gets underway, all eyes will be on Copenhagen to see whether these extraordinary measures can keep the peace amid a climate of growing uncertainty and suspicion.
With the world’s attention fixed on Denmark, the stakes could hardly be higher. The outcome of this week’s summits may well set the tone for Europe’s collective response to new forms of hybrid warfare—and for the future of security on the continent.