CenSec urges defence firms not to be intimidated by spy case

Danish defence companies must not be intimidated by the suspected espionage case involving MyDefence, the national cluster for defence, space and security actors CenSec said, according to DR.

“If Russia is allowed to prevail over companies in Denmark, and we stop assisting Ukraine, that would also be the end of Ukraine,” CenSec chief executive Dustin Wilden said. He urged companies to continue supporting Ukraine.

Two Ukrainian men, aged 18 and 21, are charged on suspicion of photographing MyDefence, a Danish defence company in Nørresundby, on 19 October. Prosecutors believe a Russian intelligence service is involved. Both men deny the charges.

MyDefence has developed anti-drone systems for, among others, the Ukrainian defence forces for several years. Last year, its chief executive, Dan Hermansen, said the company had been targeted in a Russian cyberattack. He has declined to comment on the new espionage case.

Wilden said a possible link to Russian intelligence would not be surprising. He referred to previous warnings from Denmark’s security and intelligence services that the threat level had risen because of the country’s support for Ukraine. He said companies needed the ability to detect such activity quickly and that Denmark should continue its efforts to do so.

In early September, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, PET, publicly warned of specific Russian plans for sabotage in Denmark. It said defence industry companies linked to military aid for Ukraine were among the targets, and that Russian intelligence services were actively preparing sabotage against the sector.

Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen told DR on Tuesday evening that he viewed the case with great concern. He said the government was in ongoing dialogue with police, intelligence services, relevant companies and industry organisations. Companies have a responsibility to protect themselves, he said, while society also has a responsibility to protect them.