Danish PM Links Drone Incursions to Potential Russian Activity

Thu Oct 16 2025 03:44:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describes the drone incident at Copenhagen airport as the most severe attack on Danish infrastructure and suggests possible Russian involvement, amidst increasing tensions in European airspace.

Following a serious drone sighting incident that temporarily shut down Copenhagen airport, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has indicated that Russian involvement in such incursions cannot be dismissed. The event is part of a troubling pattern linked to Russia's growing military assertiveness in European airspace, according to Danish intelligence. This incident has raised awareness of Denmark's vulnerability to external threats and prompted discussions about cybersecurity and national security measures.

The drone incursion that stopped flights at Copenhagen airport on Monday night was the most severe attack on Danish infrastructure so far, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

Kastrup airport in Copenhagen was forced to shut for several hours from around 20:30 (18:30 GMT) on Monday following the sighting of a number of drones.

It says something about the times we live in and what we as a society must be prepared to deal with, Frederiksen told reporters.

Russian involvement could not be ruled out, Frederiksen added - although Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the allegations unfounded.

The Danish PM made a link between last night's events in Denmark and the recent Russian drone incursions in Poland and Romania, as well as the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets.

Frederiksen said that the motive for the incursion in Copenhagen had likely been to disrupt, create unrest... to see how far you can go and test the limits.

Danish intelligence mirrored this assessment, saying the country was facing a high threat of sabotage.

Someone may not necessarily want to attack us, but rather stress us out and see how we react, said Flemming Drejer, director of operations at Denmark's intelligence service PET.

In nearby Norway, Oslo airport too was closed for a period after possible drone sightings.

Around 20,000 passengers were impacted by the closure of Copenhagen airport, which resumed operations after midnight local time.

Earlier on Tuesday Danish police stated they did not know who was behind the drones, but that evidence suggested it was a capable actor.

A number of large drones which had come from different directions had been observed at Copenhagen airport, said police Inspector Jens Jespersen.

Police did not shoot down the drones because the airport is located in a densely built-up area and due to safety concerns involving planes that were already in the air.

Tensions have been escalating recently after Russian drones and aircraft ventured into central and eastern European airspace, prompting heightened security measures and responses from NATO.