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, she added - although Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the allegations 'unfounded'.
The Danish PM made a connection between the incidents in Denmark and recent Russian drone incursions seen in Poland and Romania, as well as a violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets. Frederiksen indicated that the motive behind the incursion in Copenhagen may have been to 'disrupt, create unrest... to see how far you can go and test the limits.'
Danish intelligence supported this view, stating the country faces a 'high threat of sabotage.' 'Someone may not necessarily want to attack us, but rather stress us out and see how we react,' noted Flemming Drejer, director of operations at Denmark's intelligence service PET.
In neighboring Norway, Oslo airport was also closed for a time due to possible drone sightings. The Copenhagen airport closure impacted approximately 20,000 passengers and resumed operations after midnight.
Earlier on Tuesday, Danish police stated they were unsure who was behind the drone operations but suggested it involved a 'capable actor.' Inspector Jens Jespersen explained that drones observed were operated with intention and capability, with the police refraining from shooting them down due to safety concerns in a populated area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referenced the incident, pointing to 'Russia's violation' of NATO airspace in Copenhagen. The Norwegian police are investigating whether the drone sightings in Oslo may be related to the incidents in Denmark, as Norway reported previous violations by Russian aircraft.
Heightened tensions in the region have been noted, particularly after recent documented incursions by Russian drones and aircraft into NATO territory, leading to strengthened defense measures from NATO members.
'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, she added - although Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the allegations 'unfounded'.
The Danish PM made a connection between the incidents in Denmark and recent Russian drone incursions seen in Poland and Romania, as well as a violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets. Frederiksen indicated that the motive behind the incursion in Copenhagen may have been to 'disrupt, create unrest... to see how far you can go and test the limits.'
Danish intelligence supported this view, stating the country faces a 'high threat of sabotage.' 'Someone may not necessarily want to attack us, but rather stress us out and see how we react,' noted Flemming Drejer, director of operations at Denmark's intelligence service PET.
In neighboring Norway, Oslo airport was also closed for a time due to possible drone sightings. The Copenhagen airport closure impacted approximately 20,000 passengers and resumed operations after midnight.
Earlier on Tuesday, Danish police stated they were unsure who was behind the drone operations but suggested it involved a 'capable actor.' Inspector Jens Jespersen explained that drones observed were operated with intention and capability, with the police refraining from shooting them down due to safety concerns in a populated area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referenced the incident, pointing to 'Russia's violation' of NATO airspace in Copenhagen. The Norwegian police are investigating whether the drone sightings in Oslo may be related to the incidents in Denmark, as Norway reported previous violations by Russian aircraft.
Heightened tensions in the region have been noted, particularly after recent documented incursions by Russian drones and aircraft into NATO territory, leading to strengthened defense measures from NATO members.
