Denmark links drones sighted at several airports to ‘hybrid attack’ launched by professionals

Denmark has linked drones causing major disruption at several airports, including Copenhagen Airport, to a “hybrid attack” across Europe.

Danish police confirmed early on Thursday that several airports had reported drone sightings, adding that they were investigating the actors behind the drones and could not rule out a prank.

Later on Thursday, Danish officials said that the incident was not a prank and pointed to a professionally mounted “hybrid attack.”

“There can be no doubt that everything points to this being the work of a professional actor when we are talking about such a systematic operation in so many locations at virtually the same time. This is what I would define as a hybrid attack using different types of drones,” Denmark’s Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, told a news conference.

The drone sightings had halted flights at Copenhagen Airport for four hours on Monday, when a number of large and unidentified drones were spotted near what is one of Scandinavia’s busiest airports.

“It is too early to say what the goal of the drones is and who is the actor behind it,” a police official told the Reuters news agency, adding that authorities would take down the drones if possible.

A similar incident on Monday caused all scheduled flights at Copenhagen airport to be halted for hours. Neighboring Norway reported a similar incident.

The drone sightings near Danish and Norwegian airports come amid claims of Russian violation of the EU airspace.

Speaking on Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she “cannot reject in any way that it could be Russia” that was behind the Copenhagen Airport incident.

Russian Ambassador to Denmark said Moscow is not interested in escalating tensions in Europe, which could lead to “unpredictable consequences.”

Vladimir Barbin rejected any claims against Moscow and said the drones launched in the skies above Copenhagen Airport were an attempt to draw NATO countries into direct conflict with Russia.

“The incident in the skies above Copenhagen Airport shows a clear desire to bring NATO countries into direct military confrontation with Russia. Indulging this is unacceptable,” he said.

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Recent incidents involving drones and aircraft in Poland, Estonia, and Romania have led to claims that Russian forces are testing NATO’s defenses.

US President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft in their airspace.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that “while the facts are still being established, it is clear we are witnessing a pattern of persistent contestation at our borders.”

“Our critical infrastructure is at risk,” she said. “And Europe will respond to this threat with strength and determination.”

The president of the European Commission noted that shooting down “fighter jet[s]” that intrude into NATO airspace is “on the table.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims linking Moscow to the drones as “unfounded,” saying Russian “aircraft are guided by international regulations in all their flights and do not violate them in any way.”

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