Chief on Hybrid War: Russian Warships Have Threatened Danish Naval Vessels

The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE) warns that the threat of Russian sabotage against Denmark is high.

Recent incidents include Russian warships sailing directly on a collision course with Danish naval vessels, cyberattacks on Danish waterworks, and Russian landing craft anchored south of Langeland — intended to deter Denmark from intercepting ships from Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

“These are all examples of Russia’s hybrid warfare against Denmark and the West,” said FE chief Thomas Ahrenkiel at a rare press briefing alongside Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V).

> “It is our assessment that Russia is currently waging a hybrid war against Denmark and the West. Russia is using military means aggressively to pressure us — but without crossing the line into traditional armed conflict,” Ahrenkiel stated.

Provocations at Sea and in the Air

According to Ahrenkiel, Russian warships have repeatedly sailed on a collision course with Danish naval vessels monitoring their passage through the straits. In other cases, Danish helicopters and ships have been targeted with tracking radars and even “aimed at” with weapons.

Russia has also jammed GPS signals in Denmark, deployed sonar and jamming equipment during transits, and escalated air provocations by violating NATO airspace with attack drones.

“Now that a Russian landing craft is anchored south of Langeland, it may be because they are prepared to intervene if we try to stop a ship from the shadow fleet,” Ahrenkiel warned.

Fear and Pressure — Not Open War

Moscow’s actions, FE assesses, are designed to instill fear, spread disunity, and deter Denmark from enforcing rules in the Baltic.

“Russia wants us to believe war is imminent. They even say publicly they are at war with the West. This is part of their information war,” said Ahrenkiel.

Still, FE judges that Moscow does not seek direct conflict with Denmark at this stage.

“An armed conflict is too risky. We continue to assess that Russia will not launch a conventional military attack on Denmark. But Russia is arming itself to be able to fight NATO at a later stage,” Ahrenkiel said.

Hybrid Attacks Expected to Grow

FE has also tracked pro-Russian hackers targeting Danish critical infrastructure, including an attack on a waterworks that burst pipes, as well as sabotage operations abroad — such as Wagner Group operatives hiring petty criminals in the UK to torch a warehouse with supplies for Ukraine.

“We expect more hybrid attacks in the coming period — cyberattacks, sabotage, provocations, and influence operations,” Ahrenkiel concluded.