Denmark bans civilian drones in the run up to Copenhagen EU summit

Denmark will impose a blanket ban on civilian drone flights this week as Copenhagen prepares to host a high-level European Union meeting, a measure authorities say is necessary to eliminate confusion and reduce risks after a series of unexplained incursions into Danish airspace.

The decision, announced by the Ministry of Transport, follows a string of drone sightings since 22 September that forced the temporary closure of several airports and triggered speculation of Russian involvement – allegations firmly denied by Moscow.

EU heads of state and government will meet for an informal European Council in Copenhagen on 1-2 October, under Danish Presidency of the Counicl of the EU, to discuss how to strengthen the Europe’s common defence and support for Ukraine. The leaders will return to both topics at the next European Council meeting on 23-24 October 2025.

Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen said the measure will apply from 29 September to 3 October, covering the entire week of the EU leaders’ meeting. “By shutting down the airspace to all civilian drones, we eliminate the risk that hostile drones are mistaken for legitimate ones, and vice versa,” he stated.

According to the ministry, violations of the ban could result in fines or prison terms of up to two years.

Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard added that the prohibition is designed to free up security resources. “Police are on high alert and our authorities must concentrate their strength where it is most needed – to protect Danes and our guests,” he explained. The move, he stressed, would prevent law enforcement from wasting effort on drones that do not pose a security threat.

Authorities say that since late September police have logged more than 500 citizen reports of suspected drone activity. Most were dismissed as irrelevant, but several incidents prompted drastic measures. On the evening of 22 September, operations at Copenhagen Airport were halted for four hours after two to three large drones were seen nearby, flying with lights switched on and off before disappearing.

The disruption led to delays, diversions and cancellations of flights. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the episode as “a serious attack on Denmark’s critical infrastructure” and said Russian involvement could not be ruled out. Similar disruptions occurred the same day in Oslo, where the Norwegian capital’s airport was shut down due to UAV sightings.

Two days later, new drone activity was detected near Aalborg Airport, which hosts Denmark’s C-130 Hercules fleet and the Jaegerkorps special forces unit, as well as in southern Jutland near Esbjerg, Skrydstrup and Sønderborg – sites linked to the country’s F-16 fighter operations. The pattern of incidents, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen warned, “looks systematic” and constitutes “a hybrid attack.”

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the situation a direct threat to Europe’s critical infrastructure, pledging that Europe would respond “with strength and determination.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also voiced solidarity, saying the Alliance is working with Denmark to protect key assets.

Frederiksen has gone further, declaring that Denmark is already facing the opening stages of a hybrid war. “We are witnessing cyberattacks, drones, sabotage. I think this is only the beginning of what lies ahead,” she said on 25 September.

Public reaction has been intense. Commentators described the government’s early briefings as unconvincing, with defence analysts warning that Denmark appeared unprepared despite years of drone warfare in Ukraine. Opposition leaders voiced alarm but urged unity, with Liberal Alliance chief Alex Vanopslagh calling the situation “deeply troubling” and Danish Democrats’ Peter Skaarup urging political cohesion.

The episodes have drawn comparisons with other unexplained incidents in Europe – from damaged undersea cables to mysterious fires, often seen through the lens of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Denmark’s role as a staunch supporter of Kyiv, its delivery of F-16 jets and hosting of Ukrainian defence production have made it a prominent target, analysts note.

While no official proof has been presented, intelligence chief Finn Borch described the incidents as a “classic hybrid operation” against a small democratic state. Army intelligence head Thomas Ahrenkiel warned that Moscow is increasingly resorting to such tactics.

As Copenhagen braces for the EU summit, the drone ban is both a symbolic and practical response. As Frederiksen put it, “We are not at war in the traditional sense. But hybrid war has begun.”

Caption: A mobile radar installation stands at the Danish military’s area on Amager, Pionegaarden, near the village of Dragoer and on the coast of Oresund, the sea between Denmark and Sweden, in Dragoer, Denmark, 26 September 2025. The radar installation comes after drones were spotted near Copenhagen Airport on the evening of 22 September, leading to the airspace over Copenhagen being closed for four hours on the night leading to 23 September. EPA/Steven Knap