Denmark’s defence intelligence service has reported a series of aggressive maneuvers by Russian warships in the Danish straits, a critical passage connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. According to Defence Intelligence Director Thomas Ahrenkiel, Russian vessels have sailed on collision courses, aimed weapons at Danish naval ships and helicopters, and used tracking radars in ways that risk unintended escalation. He also noted that Russian warships have been observed carrying sonar and jamming equipment, with at least one incident causing significant GPS interference in Denmark.

The activity, which Denmark views as part of Moscow’s broader hybrid warfare strategy, comes amid heightened tensions in the Baltic region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Denmark, a strong supporter of Kyiv, has expanded its defence budget and committed to acquiring long-range precision weapons capable of reaching targets inside Russia. Ahrenkiel further warned that a Russian warship anchored in Danish waters for over a week could be linked to Moscow’s efforts to protect its so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to evade Western sanctions.

Despite these provocations, Danish defence intelligence stressed that there is no direct military threat to Denmark. However, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently described drone incursions over Danish airports and military sites as a “hybrid attack,” while Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed ongoing investigations. NATO has since bolstered its operations in the Baltic, and Sweden has moved to tighten maritime surveillance laws. The White House also described Russia’s actions as a serious matter, reaffirming close coordination with NATO allies.

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Russia unleashed one of its heaviest missile and drone barrages on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 23 people and wounding dozens in a night of explosions that rattled every district of Kyiv. Mayor Vitali Klitschko called it one of the biggest assaults in recent months, with residential buildings, energy facilities, and foreign offices including those of the European Union, Britain, Turkey, and Azerbaijan damaged in the strikes. Ukraine’s military said the country was hit in 13 locations, causing widespread power cuts.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack as Moscow’s rejection of peace efforts, just two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the war. “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” Zelenskiy said, calling for new sanctions. The European Union and Britain summoned Russian envoys to protest the strikes, while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen pledged a 19th sanctions package and reiterated efforts to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

The White House said Trump was “not happy but not surprised” by the attack, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting that “perhaps both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves.” Despite Moscow’s claims that it targeted military-industrial sites, Ukrainian officials said the strikes once again demonstrated Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure. Ukraine’s air defences shot down most incoming weapons, destroying 563 drones and 26 missiles, while Ukrainian drones retaliated with strikes on Russian oil refineries.

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