Drones have been spotted near several military sites, including Denmark’s largest base, following a spate of incidents earlier this week that disrupted air traffic.
The unmanned devices were seen over Karup airbase, among other locations, prompting a temporary closure of its airspace to commercial flights. Similar sightings were also reported in Germany, Norway, and Lithuania.
This marks the latest episode in a series of suspicious drone activities in Denmark, raising concerns about the country’s exposure to aerial threats and prompting speculation about potential Russian involvement.
Danish authorities described Thursday’s incursions as a “hybrid attack,” though they stressed there is no evidence linking Moscow to the incidents.
Friday’s activity occurred around 20:15 local time (18:15 GMT) and persisted for several hours, duty officer Simon Skelsjaer told AFP.
He added that police could not comment on the drones’ origin, as none had been shot down. “Police are co-operating with the Danish military in their investigation,” Skelsjaer said.
Although civil airspace above Karup was briefly closed, the disruption had little effect, as no commercial flights were scheduled at the time, he noted.
The Danish Defence Ministry confirmed drone sightings near multiple military installations overnight but declined to provide further details. The other facilities have not been named by Danish state media.
Authorities have refrained from speculating about the perpetrators. Karup airbase employs roughly 3,500 personnel and houses all of the Danish Armed Forces’ helicopters, airspace surveillance, and parts of the Defence Command.
The latest incursions follow earlier drone activity that forced closures at Danish airports, some of which also host military facilities. On Wednesday night, Aalborg and Billund airports suspended operations after drones were spotted, while three smaller airports experienced sightings but remained operational.
Earlier in the week, Copenhagen airport closed for several hours due to multiple drone sightings. Oslo airport in Norway also faced temporary shutdowns over possible drone activity.
Germany’s Interior Ministry said it is investigating drones seen Friday over Schleswig-Holstein, the region bordering Denmark’s Jutland, home to Karup and the affected airports. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the drone threat as high and indicated Germany will discuss the matter with European partners next month.
Norwegian police confirmed investigations into possible drone activity at Orland airbase, where F-35 fighter jets are stationed, while flights at Vilnius airport in Lithuania were delayed after Friday sightings near the Russian border.
Speculation has grown that Wednesday’s drone wave could represent a Russian tactic of indirect aggression against NATO countries supporting Ukraine, though no evidence has confirmed this. The Russian embassy in Copenhagen called such suggestions “absurd speculations” and dismissed them as “staged provocations.”
Denmark’s defence minister characterized the “hybrid attack” as the work of a “professional actor” but indicated it appeared to have been launched locally. A hybrid attack combines military and non-military tactics designed to disrupt a nation’s infrastructure or institutions.
Russia has faced past accusations of hybrid attacks, and NATO members have remained on alert after several incursions into European airspace. Last week, Estonia and Poland requested NATO consultations after around 20 Russian drones entered Poland, while Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace. Romania also reported a Russian drone breach.
While Russia denied violations in Estonia and claimed the Polish incursion was not deliberate, it did not comment on the Romanian incident.
After Monday’s Copenhagen incident, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that Russian involvement could not be ruled out. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as “unfounded.”
