Danish authorities warn of far-right tendencies among young Ukrainian refugees

Danish authorities have raised concerns over a growing far-right trend among young Ukrainian refugees, with multiple municipalities and police districts reporting cases to the Center Against Extremism.

The reports involve individuals from their teens to early 20s, according to the Center for Documentation and Efforts Against Extremism (CDE) under the Danish Immigration Service. Speaking to DR’s P1 Morgen, CDE head Kenneth Smidt Hansen said the agency has received an increasing number of inquiries since spring regarding Ukrainian youth displaying far-right symbols or views.

These include extremist statements, clothing, or tattoos—such as swastikas or SS symbols—linked to far-right ideology. Nordsjælland Police confirmed encounters with young people wearing far-right apparel or expressing extremist views in public.

Copenhagen Police reported isolated cases of Ukrainian youth exhibiting unsettling behavior, while Midt- og Vestsjælland Police noted growing awareness of youth attending meetings with far-right groups. Both Copenhagen Municipality and Gentofte Municipality acknowledged the issue.

Smidt Hansen emphasized that while most Ukrainian refugees—over 65,000 since Russia’s invasion—have integrated well, the trend is part of a broader rise in far-right extremism. Authorities fear unchecked development could lead to violence or police intervention.

The CDE has no precise data on the scope of the issue among Ukrainians in Denmark and cannot confirm causes, though vulnerability, identity struggles, or trauma from war may play a role. Smidt Hansen noted that extremist groups often target vulnerable individuals, including those fleeing conflict.

Karen-Inge Karstoft, leading a University of Copenhagen study on Ukrainian refugees’ well-being, said a significant minority show signs of distress, including depression or PTSD, with some struggling to adapt to Danish society.

Smidt Hansen stressed that the reports concern only a small fraction of Ukrainian arrivals.