Drones over Denmark tied to Russian incursions, Danish prime minister says

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the drones that flew over Copenhagen and disrupted Copenhagen Airport on Monday night were part of a broader wave of Russian incursions in Europe, calling it the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date. She told reporters the incident was a clear assault on Denmark and linked it to recent incursions over Poland, Romania and Estonia. While she stopped short of naming Moscow as responsible, Frederiksen said the episode fits a pattern of drone violations and cyberattacks aimed at disrupting European infrastructure during a tense period for NATO and its partners. “We are obviously not ruling out any options in relation to who is behind it,” she said, adding that the attack aligns with developments observed recently with other drone attacks, airspace violations, and hacker attacks on European airports.

The episode prompted major disruption at the busy airport as several large drones were sighted Monday night, temporarily bringing operations to a standstill. Danish authorities described the incident as a clear attempt to disrupt critical infrastructure during a period of heightened regional tension. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly accused Moscow of involvement, though he did not present public evidence. The Kremlin dismissed the claims as unfounded, with Moscow’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, saying the incident was intended to provoke NATO into a direct confrontation with Russia. In Copenhagen, Danish police Chief Superintendent Jens Jespersen said the drones may have been launched from ships entering through the Baltic Sea and emphasized that investigators had not established who was responsible, though the attackers appeared to be well-equipped. “Whoever was behind the drones has the capabilities, the will, and the tools to show off in this way,” Jespersen said.

Norwegian authorities reported a separate drone incident at Oslo’s airport the same evening, shutting down nearly all runways according to local broadcaster NRK. While authorities did not immediately link the Oslo disruption to the Copenhagen event, the coincidence underscored a broader concern about drone activity across northern Europe. Earlier this month, Russia’s air operations in the region drew attention after Estonia reported an unprecedented incursion by Russian warplanes, with drones also entering Romania and Poland in the same period. NATO officials have described the pattern as troubling and indicative of intensified aerial activity near European airspace.

Investigators involved in the Danish case said the inquiry remains ongoing and that it is premature to attribute the incident to a specific actor. Police and intelligence agencies are pooling data from radar, air traffic control, surveillance footage, and flight-tracking records as they assess flight paths, timing, and possible links to other cyber or physical disruptions. Frederiksen’s government has signaled it will consider all options as the investigation progresses, stressing that attribution will require careful, corroborated evidence.

From Copenhagen to the Baltic and beyond, officials have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about state sponsorship or explicit intent. The Danish premier’s remarks, while acknowledging the broader pattern of incursions, reflect a cautious approach to attribution in a case that has quickly become a flashpoint for Europe’s security concerns. The episode comes amid ongoing security reviews and heightened vigilance at transport hubs across the region as authorities seek to deter future drone activity and protect critical infrastructure.

The episode also underscores the delicate balance European leaders must strike between public attribution and evidence-based investigation in an era of sophisticated unmanned systems. As investigators continue to piece together the drones’ origins, the broader question remains how best to safeguard airports and other essential networks from similar disruptions in the months ahead.

Danish and European security officials have stressed that while tensions with Russia remain high, responsible attribution requires verification rather than speculation. The incident in Copenhagen, together with the Oslo disruption and recent incursions in Estonia, Romania, and Poland, has led to renewed calls for reinforced air defenses, stricter drone regulations, and improved cross-border cooperation to monitor, detect, and respond to aerial threats in real time.

@y Event officials cautioned that even as attribution remains unsettled, the need for resilience and rapid incident-response capabilities is clear. As authorities review security protocols and update threat assessments, the region remains on high alert for additional drone activity that could affect travel, commerce, and civilian life across Europe.