Danish intelligence warns Russia is actively preparing sabotage operations
Denmark’s intelligence service has warned that Russia is actively preparing sabotage operations in the country, with the defence industry identified as a particular target. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) told AFP on Thursday that Russian intelligence services were working on preparations for acts of sabotage targeting Denmark’s defence sector.
According to PET, Russian agents are also using social media to recruit “ordinary Danes” to take photographs that could later be used to help plan sabotage operations.
Emil Graesholm, PET’s head of counterintelligence, told the Danish newspaper Berlingske on Thursday that the agency was making details of the methods public because such operations do not necessarily resemble the traditional image of espionage.
The warning comes as European governments are increasingly concerned about alleged Russian sabotage activities across the continent. EU countries recently summoned Russian envoys and discussed additional sanctions following an incident in Germany involving a drone carrying explosives. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the incident appeared to bear the characteristics of “state-sponsored terrorism.”
EU foreign ministers discussed possible responses to the attempted drone attack on Wednesday. However, they faced difficulties in identifying new measures to counter the threat without resorting to military action.
“It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. The question is: what do we do about this,” Kallas told reporters ahead of chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland.
The European Union has already imposed nearly two dozen rounds of sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine. The measures have targeted more than 3,000 officials, oligarchs and organisations, including banks, energy companies and drone manufacturers.
Russia has in recent months faced accusations of increasing sabotage operations against European countries supporting Ukraine. The alleged campaign comes as Russian forces continue to make limited progress on the battlefield in the war launched by the Kremlin in 2022.
PET warned as early as 2024 that the Russian threat to Denmark, a strong supporter of Ukraine, was becoming more serious.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Denmark has provided Ukraine with at least €10 billion in military assistance and approximately €1 billion in civilian support, according to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In June, Copenhagen announced its 30th military aid package for Kyiv, worth around 4.4 billion Danish kroner (€577 million). The package includes ammunition, weapons, equipment and training for Ukrainian troops.
