Danish authorities overwhelmed by drone reports despite lack of evidence

Danish police received 7,000 reports of possible drones in autumn 2025, with most dismissed after review of videos, witness statements, and data, according to an analysis by DR.

After nine months of investigating major incidents that temporarily closed airports across Denmark, police found no evidence of illegal or hostile drone activity. However, unexplained radar tracks from Copenhagen Airport’s bird radar and Naviair’s primary radar remain, including one object traveling over 100 km/h across the Øresund Strait. Experts suggest these could be drones, radar errors, or atmospheric phenomena.

Meanwhile, the Danish Defence received 200 special reports via its internal system about possible drones over military installations. In its public evaluation, Defence reduced these to four confirmed cases where soldiers with thermal equipment observed drones near military vessels and air bases. Defence Chief Michael Hyldgaard stated he trusts his soldiers’ observations and noted that intelligence suggests Russia may deploy surveillance or “nuisance drones” to intimidate Denmark.

Police, however, require court-admissible evidence to hold anyone accountable. Soldier observations alone do not meet this standard.

The surge in reports—unprecedented for Danish police—followed public warnings of potential attacks, with Russia framed as a possible aggressor. This rhetoric, combined with terms like “hybrid warfare” and “9/11,” fueled public anxiety and led to a flood of reports, including misidentifications of stars, bridges, and commercial aircraft.

In contrast, Norwegian authorities, facing similar reports, emphasized avoiding self-induced fear, noting that hybrid warfare relies on creating alarm through narrative.