Denmark, long considered one of Europe’s most peaceful corners, has found itself at the center of escalating tensions with Russia. Over recent weeks, a series of aggressive maneuvers by Russian warships and mysterious drone incursions have rattled the country, prompting a flurry of diplomatic activity, military deployments, and growing unease among ordinary Danes.
According to Reuters and Ukrainska Pravda, Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service sounded the alarm after Russian naval vessels repeatedly engaged in provocative actions in the Danish straits—the crucial waterways linking the Baltic and North Seas. These incidents included Russian ships deliberately taking collision courses with Danish vessels, targeting Danish Air Force helicopters and naval ships with tracking radars, and even physically aiming weapons at them. In one striking case, a Russian warship anchored in Danish waters for more than a week, a move interpreted by Danish intelligence as a signal from Moscow that it’s willing to flex its military muscle if Denmark seeks to clamp down on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet—tankers used to evade Western oil sanctions.
“We have witnessed several incidents in the Danish straits where Danish Air Force helicopters and naval vessels were targeted by Russian warships’ tracking radars and had weapons physically aimed at them,” said Thomas Arenkiel, director of Danish military intelligence, at a press conference on October 4, 2025, as reported by Reuters and Ukrainska Pravda. Arenkiel added that these provocations were part of Russia’s broader hybrid war strategy, designed to pressure Denmark and its NATO allies without crossing the threshold into open conflict. “Russia is using military tools, including aggressive ones, to pressure us without crossing the threshold into traditional armed conflict,” he explained.
The Danish intelligence service also reported that some Russian ships were equipped with active sonars and jamming systems, which were likely responsible for severe GPS disruptions across Denmark. These disruptions have affected civilian and military navigation, raising the stakes of the standoff in the Baltic region, which has already been tense due to incidents involving undersea cables and repeated airspace violations.
While the naval provocations were unfolding at sea, Denmark was also grappling with a string of drone sightings that sowed confusion and fear on land. Beginning on September 22, 2025, unidentified drones were spotted over Copenhagen Airport, prompting a shutdown for several hours. In the days that followed, drones were reported flying near key military installations, including Aalborg Air Base—home to Denmark’s C-130 Hercules and CL-604 Challenger aircraft as well as the elite Jægerkorps unit—and Skrydstrup Air Base, where Denmark’s F-16 fighter jets are stationed. Aalborg Airport was closed for the third time in a single month due to these mysterious aerial incursions, according to NPR and Politico.
The drone scare was not confined to Denmark. On October 2, 2025, Munich Airport in Germany grounded flights after several drone sightings, and on October 3, Belgian authorities launched an investigation after drones were seen above a military base near the German border. These incidents have fueled concerns that Russia is waging a coordinated campaign of hybrid warfare across Europe, using drones, cyberattacks, GPS jamming, sabotage, and even arson to destabilize its adversaries and test their defenses.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did not mince words when she addressed reporters on October 1. “I hope that everybody recognizes now that there is a hybrid war, and one day it’s Poland, the other day it’s Denmark and next week, it will probably be somewhere else,” she said, as quoted by Politico. “There is only one country…willing to threaten us, and it is Russia, and therefore, we need a very strong answer back.”
Despite mounting suspicions, Denmark has stopped short of directly blaming Russia for the drone incidents. Moscow, for its part, has denied any involvement. Russia’s ambassador to Denmark dismissed the accusations as “a staged provocation” designed to spark a military confrontation. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, responded with characteristic sarcasm, telling reporters on October 2, “I’ll stop, I won’t send any more drones to France, Denmark, Copenhagen. Where else have they been flying?”
The United States has taken the provocations seriously. On October 3, the White House described the reports of Russian maritime aggression as “a serious matter.” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, “The administration is closely monitoring the situation. The National Security Council is in regular contact with our NATO allies, and the president is speaking with many of them.” In response to the security threats, the U.S. and other NATO countries have sent military troops and equipment to Denmark to bolster the defense of Copenhagen, especially as the city hosts high-profile meetings with European Union leaders this week. Even Ukraine has offered support, underscoring the sense of solidarity among Russia’s adversaries.
The impact of these events has rippled through Danish society. Many citizens have begun to take government advice about emergency preparedness more seriously. As NPR reported, residents are stockpiling enough supplies to survive at least three days without electricity, food, or water—a recommendation that previously might have seemed excessive. “Everybody is talking about it,” said Trine, a hotel receptionist living near the airport. “We make these emergency plans. What do we do? So we actually—we prepped. We prepared.”
Sales of emergency supplies such as 20-liter water containers have surged in Copenhagen suburbs. Alejandra and Alexander, two local shoppers, told NPR that the drone incidents were a wake-up call. “We bought, like, all the water and all that was before the drones. So now with the drones, we were like, OK…We need to get the last stuff…that is on the list.” Swedish security experts have urged Denmark to invest in renovating and expanding its network of bomb shelters, drawing on Sweden’s own experience after the start of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine.
The sense of vulnerability is palpable. Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard acknowledged on October 3 that hybrid warfare is the country’s new reality. “We will be in a situation that is also similar to this one again. That is the nature of hybrid warfare,” he said, according to NPR. Some Danes, like Trine, have even joked about wanting to shoot down the next drone that appears overhead—a sentiment that, while lighthearted, speaks to the anxiety gripping the public.
The Danish Defense Intelligence Service has warned that the threat from Russia could escalate further. In a report dated February 9, 2025, the agency assessed that once the war in Ukraine ends or freezes, Russia could launch a local war against a neighboring country within six months, a regional war in the Baltics within two years, and a large-scale attack on Europe within five years—especially if NATO appears divided or the U.S. is unwilling to intervene.
Amid this fraught atmosphere, Europe is scrambling to reinforce its military capabilities, while the U.S. has begun providing Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. The stakes are high, and the outcome uncertain, as Denmark and its allies brace for whatever Russia might try next.
For now, Denmark’s resolve is being tested in real time, both on the high seas and in the skies above its cities.
