Denmark prepares for a Russian 'hybrid war' after repeated drone spottings

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F46%2Fd33d5a8242ddb50e168541bb3248%2Fgettyimages-2237861892.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F46%2Fd33d5a8242ddb50e168541bb3248%2Fgettyimages-2237861892.jpg" class="img" alt="A sign reading "drone flying prohibited" is pictured in Halsskov, West Zealand, Denmark. Denmark banned all civilian drone flights across the country as Copenhagen hosted a European summit, after mysterious drone sightings across the country began in September." fetchpriority="high"/> An indication studying "drone flying prohibited" is pictured in Halsskov, West Zealand, Denmark. Denmark banned all civilian drone flights throughout the nation as Copenhagen hosted a European summit, after mysterious drone sightings throughout the nation started in September. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Trine, a resort receptionist within the Danish capital, has had bother sleeping lately. She is simply too nervous in regards to the unsettling noise of unidentified drones hovering within the evening.

"I dwell very close to the airport, so each evening these helicopters and stuff are going round and round," she stated, making a whirring sound. "I really want to sleep."

She's not the one one whose nerves had been frayed in Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says a "hybrid battle" in Europe is underway, describing it as "probably the most tough and harmful scenario for the reason that finish of the Second World Struggle."

The federal government has not formally pinpointed who staged the drone flights, however Prime Minister Frederiksen stated: "There is just one nation keen to threaten us and it's Russia, and due to this fact we want a really robust reply again."

On Friday, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service stated Russia is placing stress on Denmark with "hybrid warfare," which the company outlined as a mix of political, financial, info and army means "to undermine a state whereas remaining under the edge of armed battle."

The US and different NATO nations rushed army, legislation enforcement and technical sources to the Denmark this week to guard high-level conferences of European leaders in Copenhagen. Officers deemed the unidentified drones coming into Denmark's airspace a severe safety danger.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6642x4430+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa%2F20%2F6d66bc9249b4b6f2297b3907b0a8%2Fgettyimages-2238366514.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6642x4430+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa%2F20%2F6d66bc9249b4b6f2297b3907b0a8%2Fgettyimages-2238366514.jpg" class="img" alt="Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen (right), and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend a news conference at the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday." loading="lazy"/> Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen (proper), and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend a information convention on the European Political Neighborhood summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday. Nichlas Pollier/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Nichlas Pollier/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/03/04/2022-03-01t175456z_190705021_rc2rts9rml0z_rtrmadp_3_ukraine-crisis_sq-e4e6322908731572c4041e607bb879c7ca382ba1.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/03/04/2022-03-01t175456z_190705021_rc2rts9rml0z_rtrmadp_3_ukraine-crisis_sq-e4e6322908731572c4041e607bb879c7ca382ba1.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/03/04/2022-03-01t175456z_190705021_rc2rts9rml0z_rtrmadp_3_ukraine-crisis_sq-e4e6322908731572c4041e607bb879c7ca382ba1.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="Ukraine invasion — explained" loading="lazy"/>

After 3 1/2 years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European nations like this one — Kyiv's backers and army suppliers — are nervous the Kremlin may carry the battle their method. Denmark, a NATO and European Union member with about 6 million individuals, is on excessive alert after the latest airspace incursions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied any plans to invade NATO nations. Talking on Thursday in Sochi, Putin accused Europe of "whipping up hysteria" a few "Russian menace."

However this, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard warned on nationwide tv, is Denmark's "new actuality."

Danes are very frightened "Everyone is speaking about it," Trine says in regards to the drones, including that her household is "very, very frightened."

NPR agreed to not use the final names of a few of these interviewed on this story, due to the panic round this safety difficulty.

Trine says being nervous made her take inventory of her household's emergency plans. "We prepped, we ready," she defined, checking their canned meals provide, stocking up on water and reviewing their plan with different members of the family in case they must evacuate their dwelling in Copenhagen.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3952x2635+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F88%2F9ce55e99475c9ddd8581c2879433%2Fgettyimages-2238117720.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3952x2635+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F88%2F9ce55e99475c9ddd8581c2879433%2Fgettyimages-2238117720.jpg" class="img" alt="A sniper is seen on a roof as police secures the venue of a meeting of European Union leaders at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday." loading="lazy"/> A sniper is seen on a roof as police secures the venue of a gathering of European Union leaders at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday. Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures For Trine's household — which features a "fats bulldog that may't run," she notes — the plan could be to regroup at her father's home "far, far out within the nation." She says, "It is a large home," with "room for everyone, me and my household, my brother and his household and my mother and everyone and the animals as effectively."

She says she has heard from some associates who've extra elaborate plans, that embrace even leaving Denmark if crucial.

Stocking up for an emergency Like different Nordic governments, Denmark has lengthy urged residents to retailer sufficient provides to outlive a minimal of three days with no entry to electrical energy, meals or recent water. With out the sensation of a direct menace, many individuals had been complacent about really doing that.

However that is modified. For the reason that drones first appeared Sept. 22, the rules have been mentioned extensively within the media, together with makes an attempt to keep away from panic. Residents seemed to be taking them extra critically than earlier than, with headlines about runs on canned fish and battery-powered radios.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x768+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F44%2F50bcaf4a40fea7dcbf8d17ecbdc0%2Fd83f5ef8-5809-437a-88c3-5f586af9b03b-1-105-c.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x768+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F44%2F50bcaf4a40fea7dcbf8d17ecbdc0%2Fd83f5ef8-5809-437a-88c3-5f586af9b03b-1-105-c.jpeg" class="img" alt="Danish newspaper with headlines read “F-35 aircraft ready to strike” and “Easy prey for Putin,” on Sept. 27." loading="lazy"/> Danish newspaper with headlines learn "F-35 plane able to strike" and "Straightforward prey for Putin," on Sept. 27. Teri Schultz for NPR cover caption

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Teri Schultz for NPR <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1960x1960+492+0/resize/100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F31%2F15%2F15b34b1a41c8ac26f9d48177f071%2Fap25268310045288.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1960x1960+492+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F31%2F15%2F15b34b1a41c8ac26f9d48177f071%2Fap25268310045288.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1960x1960+492+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F31%2F15%2F15b34b1a41c8ac26f9d48177f071%2Fap25268310045288.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="People walk outside Aalborg Airport in Denmark on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, after drones were observed on the airport on Wednesday evening and the night to Thursday, and the airspace over the airport was closed." loading="lazy"/>

At a house items retailer in a Copenhagen suburb, gross sales affiliate Peter Sandell says 20 liter water containers are a scorching merchandise. "This morning we had this, this, this and this full," he says, gesturing to a shoulder-high stage of the place the plastic jugs had been stacked hours earlier.

Close by, the shelf for tenting stoves is empty. Alejandra and Alexander, a pair who additionally need to be recognized solely by first names, snagged the final one. Alejandra's arms are filled with gasoline canisters.

She says they hadn't essentially supposed to purchase one which day, however then they noticed individuals strolling out of the shop with them and thought impulsively, "OK, let's simply purchase [it] simply in case."

The couple explains they'd stocked up on gadgets like water earlier than, however the drone incidents prompted them to rush to finish the emergency record.

Be sure shelters are prepared Danish authorities have some catching as much as do as effectively, says Jakob Hallgren, a former Swedish ambassador who's director of the Swedish Institute of Worldwide Affairs.

Sweden additionally went by a interval like this shortly after the beginning of Russia's full-scale battle on Ukraine in 2022, Hallgren explains. However then the nation reassessed the chance of being so near the entrance line, and invested loads in issues like renovating and increasing its community of bomb shelters.

Hallgren advises that the Danish authorities do the identical. "Residing in Denmark you may need — simply as perhaps additionally in Sweden till a few years in the past — form of thought that you simply had been shielded from these developments," he says. "However that is clearly not the case. So in the event that they have not, it is actually excessive time to be sure that these shelters are repaired and that there's correct details about the place you will discover them."

Down with the drones Many Danes are dissatisfied the federal government has not issued orders to shoot down the drones. Trine says she'd be completely satisfied to assist, saying she joked to her policeman husband that she'd wish to borrow one in all his weapons.

"He checked out me, [like] 'are you kidding?' " she laughs. "After which my daughter — she's 20 — she stated 'aw, come on, Dad give her a bazooka.' "

Trine emphasizes that whereas she was kidding about taking issues into her personal fingers, she positively hopes the Danish authorities does shoot down the drones in the event that they disrupt Danish skies once more.