Denmark girds for Russia ‘hybrid struggle’ after drone appearances : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F46%2Fd33d5a8242ddb50e168541bb3248%2Fgettyimages-2237861892.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F46%2Fd33d5a8242ddb50e168541bb3248%2Fgettyimages-2237861892.jpg" class="img" alt="A sign reading "drone flying prohibited" is pictured in Halsskov, West Zealand, Denmark. Denmark banned all civilian drone flights across the country as Copenhagen hosted a European summit, after mysterious drone sightings across the country began in September." fetchpriority="high"/> An indication studying "drone flying prohibited" is pictured in Halsskov, West Zealand, Denmark. Denmark banned all civilian drone flights throughout the nation as Copenhagen hosted a European summit, after mysterious drone sightings throughout the nation started in September. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Trine, a resort receptionist within the Danish capital, has had bother sleeping lately. She is simply too nervous in regards to the unsettling noise of unidentified drones hovering within the night time.

"I reside very close to the airport, so each night time these helicopters and stuff are going round and round," she stated, making a whirring sound. "I actually need to sleep."

She's not the one one whose nerves had been frayed in Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says a "hybrid struggle" in Europe is underway, describing it as "essentially the most troublesome and harmful scenario for the reason that finish of the Second World Conflict."

The federal government has not formally pinpointed who staged the drone flights, however Prime Minister Frederiksen stated: "There is just one nation prepared to threaten us and it's Russia, and due to this fact we want a really robust reply again."

On Friday, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service stated Russia is placing stress on Denmark with "hybrid warfare," which the company outlined as a mix of political, financial, info and army means "to undermine a state whereas remaining under the edge of armed battle."

The USA and different NATO international locations rushed army, regulation enforcement and technical sources to the Denmark this week to guard high-level conferences of European leaders in Copenhagen. Officers deemed the unidentified drones getting into Denmark's airspace a critical safety danger.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6642x4430+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa%2F20%2F6d66bc9249b4b6f2297b3907b0a8%2Fgettyimages-2238366514.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6642x4430+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa%2F20%2F6d66bc9249b4b6f2297b3907b0a8%2Fgettyimages-2238366514.jpg" class="img" alt="Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen (right), and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend a news conference at the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday." loading="lazy"/> Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen (proper), and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend a information convention on the European Political Neighborhood summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday. Nichlas Pollier/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Nichlas Pollier/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/03/04/2022-03-01t175456z_190705021_rc2rts9rml0z_rtrmadp_3_ukraine-crisis_sq-e4e6322908731572c4041e607bb879c7ca382ba1.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2022/03/04/2022-03-01t175456z_190705021_rc2rts9rml0z_rtrmadp_3_ukraine-crisis_sq-e4e6322908731572c4041e607bb879c7ca382ba1.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="Ukraine invasion — explained" loading="lazy"/>

After 3 1/2 years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European international locations like this one — Kyiv's backers and army suppliers — are nervous the Kremlin may carry the battle their manner. Denmark, a NATO and European Union member with about 6 million individuals, is on excessive alert after the current airspace incursions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied any plans to invade NATO international locations. Talking on Thursday in Sochi, Putin accused Europe of "whipping up hysteria" a couple of "Russian risk."

However this, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard warned on nationwide tv, is Denmark's "new actuality."

Danes are very anxious "Everyone is speaking about it," Trine says in regards to the drones, including that her household is "very, very anxious."

NPR agreed to not use the final names of a few of these interviewed on this story, due to the panic round this safety situation.

Trine says being nervous made her take inventory of her household's emergency plans. "We prepped, we ready," she defined, checking their canned meals provide, stocking up on water and reviewing their plan with different members of the family in case they should evacuate their house in Copenhagen.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3952x2635+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F88%2F9ce55e99475c9ddd8581c2879433%2Fgettyimages-2238117720.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3952x2635+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F88%2F9ce55e99475c9ddd8581c2879433%2Fgettyimages-2238117720.jpg" class="img" alt="A sniper is seen on a roof as police secures the venue of a meeting of European Union leaders at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday." loading="lazy"/> A sniper is seen on a roof as police secures the venue of a gathering of European Union leaders at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday. Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

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Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Pictures For Trine's household — which features a "fats bulldog that may't run," she notes — the plan can be to regroup at her father's home "far, far out within the nation." She says, "It is a large home," with "room for everyone, me and my household, my brother and his household and my mother and everyone and the animals as nicely."

She says she has heard from some mates who've extra elaborate plans, that embrace even leaving Denmark if crucial.

Stocking up for an emergency Like different Nordic governments, Denmark has lengthy urged residents to retailer sufficient provides to outlive a minimal of three days with no entry to electrical energy, meals or recent water. With out the sensation of a direct risk, many individuals had been complacent about really doing that.

However that is modified. Because the drones first appeared Sept. 22, the rules have been mentioned broadly within the media, together with makes an attempt to keep away from panic. Residents gave the impression to be taking them extra critically than earlier than, with headlines about runs on canned fish and battery-powered radios.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x768+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F44%2F50bcaf4a40fea7dcbf8d17ecbdc0%2Fd83f5ef8-5809-437a-88c3-5f586af9b03b-1-105-c.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x768+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F44%2F50bcaf4a40fea7dcbf8d17ecbdc0%2Fd83f5ef8-5809-437a-88c3-5f586af9b03b-1-105-c.jpeg" class="img" alt="Danish newspaper with headlines read “F-35 aircraft ready to strike” and “Easy prey for Putin,” on Sept. 27." loading="lazy"/> Danish newspaper with headlines learn "F-35 plane able to strike" and "Straightforward prey for Putin," on Sept. 27. Teri Schultz for NPR cover caption

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Teri Schultz for NPR <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1960x1960+492+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F31%2F15%2F15b34b1a41c8ac26f9d48177f071%2Fap25268310045288.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1960x1960+492+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F31%2F15%2F15b34b1a41c8ac26f9d48177f071%2Fap25268310045288.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="People walk outside Aalborg Airport in Denmark on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, after drones were observed on the airport on Wednesday evening and the night to Thursday, and the airspace over the airport was closed." loading="lazy"/>

At a house items retailer in a Copenhagen suburb, gross sales affiliate Peter Sandell says 20 liter water containers are a sizzling merchandise. "This morning we had this, this, this and this full," he says, gesturing to a shoulder-high stage of the place the plastic jugs had been stacked hours earlier.

Close by, the shelf for tenting stoves is empty. Alejandra and Alexander, a pair who additionally need to be recognized solely by first names, snagged the final one. Alejandra's arms are stuffed with gasoline canisters.

She says they hadn't essentially meant to purchase one which day, however then they noticed individuals strolling out of the shop with them and thought impulsively, "OK, let's simply purchase [it] simply in case."

The couple explains that they had stocked up on objects like water earlier than, however the drone incidents prompted them to rush to finish the emergency listing.

Be certain shelters are prepared Danish authorities have some catching as much as do as nicely, says Jakob Hallgren, a former Swedish ambassador who's director of the Swedish Institute of Worldwide Affairs.

Sweden additionally went by way of a interval like this shortly after the beginning of Russia's full-scale struggle on Ukraine in 2022, Hallgren explains. However then the nation reassessed the danger of being so near the entrance line, and invested loads in issues like renovating and increasing its community of bomb shelters.

Hallgren advises that the Danish authorities do the identical. "Dwelling in Denmark you may need — simply as perhaps additionally in Sweden till a few years in the past — form of thought that you simply had been shielded from these developments," he says. "However that is clearly not the case. So in the event that they have not, it is actually excessive time to ensure that these shelters are repaired and that there's correct details about the place you could find them."

Down with the drones Many Danes are dissatisfied the federal government has not issued orders to shoot down the drones. Trine says she'd be glad to assist, saying she joked to her policeman husband that she'd prefer to borrow one in all his weapons.

"He checked out me, [like] 'are you kidding?' " she laughs. "After which my daughter — she's 20 — she stated 'aw, come on, Dad give her a bazooka.' "

Trine emphasizes that whereas she was kidding about taking issues into her personal palms, she positively hopes the Danish authorities does shoot down the drones in the event that they disrupt Danish skies once more.