Russia is actively recruiting Danish citizens to conduct sabotage operations against Danish defense companies supporting Ukraine, the Danish counter-intelligence agency (PET) warned on Sept. 3, linking the effort to broader hybrid threats including a drone attack at Leipzig Airport in Germany. The targeting of firms aiding Kyiv underscores Moscow's strategy to disrupt Western military aid flows.
PET Chief Emil Gresholm confirmed Russian intelligence is specifically targeting companies involved in defense support for Ukraine, prompting Danish authorities to brief at-risk firms and advise heightened security. Denmark, a NATO and EU member, has pioneered defense-industrial cooperation with Kyiv, including Ukrainian production facilities on Danish soil and participation in the Ukraine-led Freya anti-ballistic missile project.
The EU and NATO vowed stronger retaliation after Germany accused Russia of orchestrating the Leipzig drone attack, with EU foreign ministers proposing sanctions on Russia's 'shadow fleet' of sanctioned ships and plans to unlock €193 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. Germany retaliated by closing Russia's cultural center in Berlin, prompting Moscow to shutter German Goethe-Institut branches in Russia, framing the move as the 'end' of German cultural presence there.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Germany 'planted evidence' to blame Moscow for the Leipzig incident, a allegation Berlin dismissed as unjustified, stressing Russia's actions required a proportional response to its 'war of aggression' against Ukraine. The dispute highlights deepening cultural and diplomatic rifts between Moscow and Berlin.