Russia escalates sabotage against Danish defence firms, intelligence says
Russia has carried out sabotage against Danish companies supplying weapons to Ukraine, intelligence analyst Josefine Christensen said.
Russia has carried out sabotage operations against Danish companies that supply weapons to Ukraine, after failing to curb Western military support through broader destabilisation attempts, Reuters reported, citing Danish intelligence. Josefine Christensen, a senior analyst at Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service (PET), said the shift marked a significant escalation of Moscow's hybrid war.
"In spring we saw a lot of planning, but very little real action; in early summer we saw them start to carry out a lot more," Christensen said at a conference on domestic security in Copenhagen. Russia has concluded that its previous large-scale attacks "have not had a deterrent effect on the West and NATO's willingness to support Ukraine," she said.
Moscow retains political control over the operations, but operational boldness is growing, Christensen said. Russia is now trying to hit targets with a direct impact on the front line, meaning weapons production, she said. She cited a list published by Russia's defence ministry in April naming European drone manufacturers and component makers it considers potential military targets.
Russia increasingly relies on people recruited online, including homeless and drug-dependent individuals approached through Telegram and other social networks, to carry out such operations, Christensen said. Recruits are usually given simple tasks first, such as gathering information or photographing potential targets, before being offered more serious assignments. "It can be anyone who is just looking for quick money. If the first person doesn't manage it, they'll put someone else on the problem until they succeed," she said.
The Russian embassy in Copenhagen has denied carrying out sabotage operations in Europe, Reuters reported. Denmark's military intelligence service, the DDIS, warned in September that Russia could intensify its hybrid activity against Western countries in the coming months, including destructive cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and sabotage carrying a significant risk of casualties.
What we know
- Russia has carried out sabotage against Danish companies supplying weapons to Ukraine, Danish intelligence analyst Josefine Christensen said, per Reuters.
- Russia's operational activity increased sharply from early summer after a quieter spring of planning, Christensen said.
- Russia is targeting weapons production and front-line-relevant industries, including European drone makers named on an April defence ministry list.
- Russia recruits online, including homeless and drug-dependent people via Telegram, for sabotage tasks, Christensen said.
- The Russian embassy in Copenhagen has denied carrying out sabotage operations in Europe.
Why it matters for Europe
DDIS cited an attempted drone attack on Germany's Leipzig/Halle airport, which German authorities have attributed to Russia, as part of a wider rise in suspected sabotage across Europe. NATO's top commander in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, said on 24 September that the alliance was increasing intelligence-sharing in response to a series of sabotage incidents likely linked to Russia.
Intelligence chiefs in the Czech Republic, Latvia and Sweden have also warned Russia could step up sabotage activity in Europe in the coming months, and Germany's foreign intelligence chief, Martin Jäger, warned on 5 October that Germany risked being drawn into violent conflict as Russia wages an increasingly aggressive 'shadow war' against European democracies. DDIS's last major threat assessment, published in February 2025, estimated Russia could become capable of a local war against a neighbouring country within about six months, a regional war involving several Baltic states within roughly two years, and a large-scale European war within about five years.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- Aftenposten: Reuters: Russland har gjennomført sabotasje mot danske forsvarsselskaper
- NV: Росія здійснила диверсії проти оборонних підприємств Данії, що постачають зброю Україні — розвідка країни
- TVNET: Krievija sākusi sabotāžas operācijas pret Dānijas uzņēmumiem, vēsta izlūkdienests
- The Kyiv Independent: Russia carried out sabotage against Danish defense firms, intelligence says
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What has Russia done against Danish companies?
- Danish intelligence says Russia has carried out sabotage operations against Danish firms that supply weapons to Ukraine.
- Who is Russia recruiting to carry out these operations?
- People recruited online, including homeless and drug-dependent individuals approached through Telegram and other social networks, analyst Josefine Christensen said.
- Has Russia responded to the allegations?
- Yes. The Russian embassy in Copenhagen has denied carrying out sabotage operations in Europe, Reuters reported.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.