Drones seen over Danish military bases in latest air disruption

Drones were observed overnight above Karup airbase, Denmark's largest military facility, and near other installations, prompting a brief closure of nearby civil airspace and stoking concern over the nation's vulnerability to aerial disruption.

Denmark's Defence Ministry confirmed that drones were sighted near multiple military sites overnight but would not specify which ones. Duty officer Simon Skelsjaer told the news agency AFP that the drones were observed above Karup airbase, among others, and that civil airspace above the base was briefly closed. He noted that police had not shot the aircraft down and were cooperating with the military in the investigation. Karup, located in Jutland, is home to all of the Danish Armed Forces' helicopters, airspace surveillance and parts of the Danish Defence Command, and about 3,500 people work there.

The intrusion follows a string of drone disruptions earlier this week that included airports in Copenhagen, Aalborg and Billund, with some flights disrupted and civil airspace around military sites restricted. Monday's disruption led Copenhagen's main airport to close for several hours; similar sightings prompted temporary closures at Oslo airport, and later that week, Aalborg and Billund airports also halted activity while others reported drone activity but continued operations. Danish officials said they were coordinating with police and the military as investigations continued.

Danish officials described the incident as a "hybrid attack" — a tactic that uses a blend of military and non-military methods to disrupt infrastructure — but cautioned there was no evidence to tie the activity to Moscow. After Monday's Copenhagen episode, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Russian involvement could not be ruled out, while the Russian embassy in Copenhagen rejected the suggestion as "absurd" and described it as staged provocations. Danish Defence Minister said the attack appeared to be launched locally by a "professional actor" and that it was a sophisticated operation.

The incidents come as European capitals and NATO allies have been monitoring suspected Russian drone activity. Estonia and Poland requested consultations with other NATO members after reports that around 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace and Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace earlier this month. Romania also reported a Russian drone breach. Russia has denied involvement in the Romanian incident, and said the Polish incursion was not deliberate; it did not comment on Estonia's report. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the allegations unfounded.

The wave of drone activity has intensified security concerns across Europe, particularly for nations that have supported Ukraine in its war with Russia. Danish authorities have urged restraint in drawing conclusions about the origin or intent of the drones, emphasizing that investigations are ongoing and that concrete findings will be shared as they become available. In Copenhagen and several other capitals, officials stressed the need for vigilance while warning against premature attribution amid a broader debate about hybrid warfare strategies and the potential for non-traditional attacks to test responses without a full-scale invasion.