Denmark says Russia has conducted sabotage attacks against its defense firms

A senior Danish intelligence official stated that Russia has escalated its hybrid warfare campaign by launching sabotage operations specifically targeting Danish defense companies supplying Ukraine, marking a shift from earlier, less effective broad-spectrum disruption efforts. The official noted that Russia is increasingly using untrained proxies recruited via Telegram, and that Moscow maintains political control over operations but is growing bolder.

A senior Danish intelligence official from the national security and intelligence service (PET) announced at a homeland security conference in Copenhagen that Russia has begun conducting sabotage operations specifically targeting Danish defense companies that supply Ukraine. This marks a significant escalation in Moscow's hybrid warfare campaign, according to the official. The official explained that earlier in the spring, Russian operations involved extensive planning but little execution, but by early summer, the frequency of carried-out attacks increased. Russia concluded that its previous broad-spectrum targeting did not deter NATO from supporting Ukraine. The official stated that Moscow maintains political control over operations but is growing bolder, now aiming for targets with a direct impact on the front line, specifically weapons production. The Russian embassy in Copenhagen rejected the allegations, calling them unfounded. The official also noted that Russia is increasingly using untrained proxies, including homeless people and drug addicts recruited via Telegram, starting with low-threshold tasks like reconnaissance and escalating to sabotage. Denmark's defense intelligence service previously warned of intensified hybrid attacks, citing an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August blamed on Russia, and a September 2025 incident where drones disrupted air traffic at six Danish airports.