A wave of drone sightings across western Denmark has raised serious concerns about the country’s security, even though no damage or injuries were reported. On the same night, drones were detected near airports and military sites in Jutland, forcing temporary closures at Aalborg and Billund airports. Other sightings occurred over Esbjerg, Sønderborg, Skrydstrup – which hosts Denmark’s F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and the Jutland Dragoon regiment in Holstebro. Aalborg also doubles as a key military base.
Authorities chose not to shoot down the drones, saying it posed greater risks, but defence leaders admitted this could not be a long-term response. The incidents have sparked embarrassment in Copenhagen, with officials acknowledging the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in an era of hybrid warfare. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the incidents as “systematic,” adding that they fit the definition of a hybrid attack. However, Denmark has not assigned blame due to a lack of evidence.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has not ruled out Russian involvement, but Moscow has strongly denied any connection, calling the events a “staged provocation. Denmark’s allies have faced similar challenges in recent weeks. Norway, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania all NATO members reported hybrid threats along NATO’s eastern flank. Both Estonia and Poland recently triggered Article 4 consultations after violations of their airspace by Russian aircraft and drones.
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