Denmark has announced a temporary ban on all civilian drone flights from September 29 to October 3, citing a surge of suspicious unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) activity near critical sites ahead of the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen. The decision follows multiple incidents, including the detection of drones near key military installations and civilian airports in recent days.
Escalating drone intrusions at military and civilian sites
On September 26, Danish authorities reported unidentified drones operating over and around Karup Air Base, the Royal Danish Air Force’s main facility, and at least five other populated areas, including Copenhagen airports, between September 22–26. These violations prompted heightened security measures and the unprecedented decision to close the airspace to civilian drones. The Danish government regards these incursions as part of a broader pattern of hybrid threats against Western Europe.
Surge in GPS disruptions linked to hybrid warfare tactics
Meanwhile, the German air traffic control service (DFS) reported a striking rise in GPS signal interference during flights, with 447 incidents recorded between January and August 2025, compared to just 25 in 2023. Most disruptions occurred over the Baltic Sea and Baltic states, a development experts attribute to systematic interference from Russian-controlled regions. Such GPS spoofing and jamming poses significant risks to aviation safety and maritime navigation.
Officials describe pattern of hybrid aggression targeting Denmark and Europe
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the incidents “the most serious attack on Denmark’s critical infrastructure” in recent memory. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed a coordinated hybrid operation involving multiple drone types, warning that such incidents are likely to continue. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard suggested these provocations aim to sow fear and division within Western societies. Finn Borch, head of Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service, revealed that helicopter patrols were deployed in Aalborg in response to drone sightings, underscoring the escalating operational threat.
Rising hybrid incidents across Western Europe
Security analysts note a pattern of hybrid aggressions in Western Europe over the past year, including sabotaged undersea cables, damaged pipelines in the Baltic Sea, suspicious fires at storage facilities, and unexplained package explosions. In September 2025, at least twenty UAVs were reportedly deployed toward Poland, marking a notable escalation in such tactics. Danish officials view recent airspace incursions as possible tests of Kremlin hybrid warfare strategies against NATO and the EU, signalling a potentially prolonged phase of asymmetric confrontation.
Broader implications for regional security and NATO readiness
The Danish government has placed security agencies on heightened alert. Under Danish aviation law, the transport minister is empowered to restrict airspace access in exceptional circumstances for public safety, with violations punishable by fines or imprisonment. This latest episode highlights the evolving nature of hybrid threats and the need for coordinated defence strategies across NATO. Analysts warn that without robust countermeasures, such incidents could undermine both regional stability and civil aviation safety.
Denmark’s measures underline the growing urgency for Europe to adapt to hybrid warfare challenges, ensuring both robust defence and resilience in the face of increasingly sophisticated provocations.
