Denmark raises security at its energy facilities amid sabotage threat

Denmark has raised the security level at its energy facilities amid the threat of sabotage and hybrid attacks, the Danish Ministry of Energy said today, according to AFP. In recent days, the country has repeatedly reported unidentified drones near military and civilian sites, prompting several airports to suspend operations.

"We fear that someone will threaten our energy supplies, and a country without energy is a country that does not function," Danish Energy Minister Lars Aagaard said.

Danish authorities are raising security to the second-highest level, which will lead to increased surveillance and restricted access to energy infrastructure. Denmark last took a similar measure in September 2022, following the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.

Denmark had earlier banned all civilian drone flights in its territory because of the incidents involving unmanned aircraft, in order to ensure the security of an informal summit of European leaders to be held in Copenhagen on Wednesday and Thursday. On Sunday, the Danish Ministry of Defence said it had strengthened its capabilities to detect unmanned aerial vehicles. Germany, Sweden, France and, today, Ukraine have offered Denmark assistance with security.

The Danish government has not yet said who is behind the incidents, but ministers have previously said the activities are the work of a professional actor. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described them as a hybrid attack on her country and suggested a possible link to the presence of Russian aircraft in the airspace of other European countries. In a statement, the Russian Embassy in Denmark rejected these speculations.

"The increased vigilance is not just about drones. It also reflects the global view of energy infrastructure and the increased attention being paid to it," Aagaard said, explaining the reason for raising the security level of Denmark's energy infrastructure.