Copenhagen, Denmark – Unidentified drone activity has escalated in Denmark, with new sightings confirmed overnight over military installations, including the country’s largest base, Karup. This latest incident, which lasted for several hours, is part of a growing number of aerial incursions that Danish officials have repeatedly labelled a “hybrid attack,” hinting at possible Russian involvement.
Karup Base Targeted
On Friday evening, police confirmed that “one to two drones” were observed at approximately 8:15 pm local time near and over the Karup military base, located in western Denmark. Karup is a critical facility, housing all of the armed forces’ helicopters, airspace surveillance, flight school, and parts of the defence command.
Police spokesman Simon Skelkjaer confirmed the sighting, noting the incident “lasted for some hours.” The drones were not engaged or shot down by authorities. While the base shares its runways with the Midtjylland civilian airport, the brief closure of the civilian airspace had no practical impact as no commercial flights were scheduled at that hour. Police and the military are cooperating in the ongoing investigation.
Wider Regional Disruption
The Karup incident follows a week of continuous drone observations across Denmark, which have forced the temporary closure of several civilian airports, including Copenhagen and Aalborg. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the wave of incursions as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date,” stating that Denmark is “the victim of hybrid attacks.”
Investigators have not yet identified the culprits, but Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the flights as “the work of a professional actor” with “systematic navigation across several locations at virtually the same time.” Prime Minister Frederiksen has explicitly pointed the finger at Russia, calling it the “main country that poses a threat to Europe’s security.”
Moscow has firmly rejected the accusations, with its embassy in Copenhagen calling the incidents a “staged provocation.”
The tensions have spread regionally. On Saturday, Norway’s military was also investigating possible drone sightings near its main air force base, Ørland, where F-35 fighter jets are stationed.
EU ‘Drone Wall’ Initiative Launched
In a significant diplomatic response, Defence Ministers from ten EU countries formally agreed yesterday to make a so-called “Drone Wall” a priority for the bloc’s eastern flank defences. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stressed the urgency, stating that Europe must learn from Ukraine and swiftly build anti-drone defences with advanced detection, tracking, and interception capabilities.
To ensure security for the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen next week, Denmark has accepted an offer from Sweden for the use of its military anti-drone technology.
