NextFin news, On Friday, October 3, 2025, Denmark's Defence Intelligence Service (FE) publicly disclosed that Russia is actively conducting hybrid warfare against Denmark. This includes aggressive naval maneuvers in Danish straits, electronic interference, drone incursions, and heightened sabotage risks.
FE Director Thomas Ahrenkiel and Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen held a press conference in Copenhagen to detail the escalating hybrid threats. They reported that Russian warships have repeatedly sailed on collision courses with Danish naval vessels, aimed weapons at them, and used sonar and jamming equipment to disrupt navigation and GPS signals in the straits connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.
Ahrenkiel stated, "We have seen several incidents in the Danish straits, where Danish air force helicopters and naval vessels have been targeted by tracking radars and physically pointed at with weapons from Russian warships." He also noted that a Russian warship has been anchored in Danish waters for over a week, raising concerns about Moscow's attempts to interfere with Denmark's monitoring of Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers circumventing Western sanctions.
The Danish Defence Intelligence Service assesses that Russia is using military means aggressively to pressure Denmark and NATO allies without crossing into traditional armed conflict. This hybrid warfare includes sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation, and espionage. Despite these provocations, Defence Minister Poulsen emphasized that there is currently no direct military threat to Denmark.
Recent drone incursions over Danish airports and military installations have been described by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as "hybrid attacks" on the country. These incidents have led to increased public concern, with a surge in sales of emergency supplies and military equipment, and a rise in interest in joining the Home Guard.
The Baltic region remains on high alert following multiple security incidents since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including undersea cable disruptions, gas pipeline outages, and airspace violations. Denmark has responded by increasing its military budget and acquiring long-range precision weapons capable of striking targets inside Russia.
Russia has denied responsibility for hybrid attacks in Europe. President Vladimir Putin dismissed allegations of targeting NATO members as "nonsense" and joked about ceasing drone flights over Denmark.
Denmark currently has two F-35 fighter jets on standby to support NATO and defend Poland’s eastern border. NATO has also strengthened its presence in the Baltic Sea in response to these hybrid threats.
In summary, Denmark faces a multifaceted hybrid warfare campaign from Russia involving naval provocations, electronic warfare, drone attacks, and sabotage risks, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions in the Baltic region as of early October 2025.
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