Key facts
- Russia is recruiting Danish citizens to plan sabotage against Danish defense firms.
- The targets have ties to Ukraine.
- Russia's intelligence services are actively preparing acts of sabotage directed at Denmark's defense industry.
- Danish companies are targets of concrete Russian sabotage planning.
- Examples of recruitment attempts on social media and gaming platforms have been uncovered.
- Recruits are asked to take photos of companies or infrastructure.
Russia is recruiting Danish citizens to help plan sabotage against Danish defense firms that have ties to Ukraine, Denmark's national security and intelligence service, PET, announced on Thursday.
Hybrid warfare and sabotage on European soil have gained renewed attention following Germany's accusation that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. This incident prompted European Union members to call for new sanctions against Russia.
"Russia is both planning and carrying out acts of sabotage against defense companies and the defense industry in Europe," stated Emil Gresholm, PET's head of counter-espionage. He added, "We see that Danish companies are also targets of concrete Russian sabotage planning, and that Russian intelligence services are actively preparing acts of sabotage directed at the defense industry in Denmark."
Moscow has denied any involvement in hybrid warfare.
Gresholm revealed that PET has uncovered concrete examples of Russia attempting to recruit Danes on social media and gaming platforms. These recruits are tasked with activities such as taking photos of companies or infrastructure, which could then be used in the planning of sabotage acts. "It is extremely serious if ordinary Danes help Russian intelligence services -- either deliberately or unwittingly," Gresholm commented.