Denmark bans drone flights after fresh drone sightings at military bases

Denmark announced on Sunday that it was banning civilian drone flights after sightings of drones near several military facilities overnight, following a week in which drone activity forced the temporary closure of a number of Danish airports.

In a statement, the Danish military said it had deployed “several capacities” in response to the incidents but declined to provide further details. Earlier in the week, drone activity led to the closure of airports, including Copenhagen Airport, which was shut for almost four hours on Monday.

The Danish government has described the activity as part of a “hybrid attack”. While it has not formally attributed blame, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has hinted at Russian involvement, calling Moscow the main “threat to European security”. The Kremlin has rejected the accusation.

The temporary ban will prevent all civilian drones from flying in Danish airspace between Monday and Friday, coinciding with Denmark’s hosting of European leaders during its tenure as holder of the EU’s rotating presidency.

“We are currently in a difficult security situation, and we must ensure the best possible working conditions for the armed forces and the police when they are responsible for security during the EU summit,” Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a statement.

Denmark will host EU leaders on Wednesday, followed by a Thursday summit of the 47-member European Political Community, established after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine to bring together the EU and other allied European nations.

On Sunday, a German air defence frigate docked in Copenhagen to provide support with airspace monitoring during the high-profile gatherings.

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