Denmark reports repeated provocations by Russia in its straits

Denmark reports repeated provocations by Russia in its straits

Russian warships have repeatedly sailed towards Danish ships, pointed weapons at Danish warships and disrupted navigation systems in the Danish Straits connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service reported on Friday.

Such events risk unintended escalation, he said.

The Baltic region remains on high alert after incidents including ruptured submarine cables, gas pipeline failures, airspace violations and drone sightings since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has heightened tensions between Moscow and the West.

Denmark, a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia, has increased its military budget and committed to purchasing long-range precision weapons capable of hitting targets inside Russian territory.

Danish intelligence: Russian ships pointed weapons at Danish helicopters

“We have seen several incidents in the Danish Straits, where Danish air force helicopters and warships have been targeted by tracking radars and Russian warships have turned their weapons on them,” said Thomas Ahrenkiel, director of Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service, at a press conference.

He said Russian ships had sailed head-on towards Danish ships during their passage through the straits.

Ahrenkiel added that a Russian warship has been anchored in Danish waters for more than a week, warning of possible intervention from Moscow if Denmark tries to restrict the movements of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports imposed over the war in Ukraine.

In May, tensions escalated in the Baltic Sea when Russia sent a fighter jet during Estonia’s intervention in a Russian-bound oil tanker suspected of being part of the shadow fleet.

In the Danish Straits, busy international shipping routes, there are frequent movements of Russian military ships that are usually escorted by the Danish navy.

According to Ahrenkiel, Defense Intelligence has also recorded Russian warships passing through the Danish Straits with sonar and jamming equipment. He said it is “highly likely” that on at least one occasion they have blocked signals and caused major GPS interference in Denmark.

Denmark’s intelligence service estimates that Russia is waging hybrid warfare against Denmark and the West as a whole.

“Russia is using military means, including aggressively, to exert pressure on us without crossing the line into an armed conflict in the traditional sense,” Ahrenkiel said.

Moscow has consistently denied responsibility for hybrid attacks in Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin joked on Thursday that he would no longer fly drones over Denmark and described as “stupid” the idea that his country would attack a NATO member.