DI urges serious response to Russian sabotage plans targeting Danish firms

Danish Industry has mobilised to help companies that could be targeted by Russian sabotage plans, the organisation’s head of societal security and emergency preparedness, Rasmus Anderskouv, told DR.

“We must take it extremely seriously when the authorities have intelligence about very specific things happening from the Russian side,” Anderskouv said.

His comments came after Berlingske published an interview with Emil Græsholm, head of counterintelligence at Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service, PET. Græsholm said Danish authorities had uncovered concrete Russian plans for sabotage operations against companies in Denmark.

DI is currently focused on informing companies and helping them prepare for the threat, Anderskouv said. But he stressed that the support should not unnecessarily frighten or worry businesses and members of the public.

“Then we would be doing the Russians’ work. And we do not want to be part of that,” he said.

Defence companies are the main target

Russia’s targets in Denmark are particularly companies in the defence industry, according to PET.

“We see that Danish companies are targets of concrete Russian sabotage planning, and that Russian intelligence services are actively preparing sabotage operations aimed at the defence industry in Denmark,” Græsholm said in a written response to DR.

PET has briefed selected companies and industry organisations on the threat and advised them on specific security measures. Græsholm said the defence industry broadly must take the necessary steps to protect itself.

DI calls for close cooperation

Anderskouv said companies and authorities needed to speak honestly about the changing threat environment, including the risk from actors seeking to cause disruption and insecurity.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining close dialogue between Danish companies and the authorities as the threat from Russia develops.

DI’s recommendations include watching for unusual activity, reviewing access controls, locks, lighting and surveillance, checking alert and escalation procedures, and ensuring that key personnel have plans for handling incidents. Companies should contact the police directly in the event of acute or specific threats.