DENMARK is looking into three suspected Russian vessels said to be part of Vladimir Putin’s “Shadow Fleet” over fears they helped launch drones into Nato airspace.
Copenhagen Airport – the busiest hub in the Nordic region – was plunged into chaos after large drones were spotted flying close by.
Putin could be testing Europe[/caption]
While authorities are still investigating the origin of the drones, they said they were likely flown by a “capable operator” who wanted to “show off”.
Denmark’s intelligence agency said the country faces “high threat of sabotage” after the drone sightings.
Jes Jespersen, senior police inspector of the Copenhagen Police, said: “It all indicates that you are not out to attack anyone, but you are out to show off and maybe to practice.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed Moscow was behind it, referencing “Russia’s violation” of Nato airspace in Copenhagen in a social media post.
Though he did not provide any source to back up his claim.
Danish authorities are now said to be probing three Russian-linked ships as key suspects.
Authorities suspect at least one of the ships could have helped launch the drones.
All three, sanctioned and suspected to be part of Russia’s notorious “shadow fleet”, were in close proximity to Denmark’s coasts when the drones were launched.
Maritime data shows that the first ship, called Astrol 1, sailed through the Øresund Strait on the night of the drone sightings.
Danish media reported that the vessel made unusual manoeuvres during thr attack, forcing authorities to monitor it closely.
A second crude oil tanker called PUSHPA, sailing under the flag of Benin, is currently in the waters of Kattega, between Denmark and Sweden.
The ship has, over the years, changed its name thrice, and Ukrainian intelligence claims it’s part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”.
Both PUSHPA and Astrol 1 are listed on Ukraine’s “War & Sanctions” portal as possible ships linked to Russia.
Another ship called Oslo Carrier 3 was located just seven kilometres from Copenhagen Airport during the drone attack, Marine Insight reports.
It comes as drone activity was spotted overnight Wednesday into Thursday near Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark, forcing it to be closed for hours.
Flights were halted for several hours at the airport, which also serves as a military base.
The ship Astrol is linked to Russia’s so-called ‘Shadow Fleet’[/caption]
The Pushpa has also been named by Ukraine as a possible Russian asset[/caption]
Putin’s notorious ‘Shadow Fleet’
Russia’s “shadow fleet” refers to a covert network of ageing oil tankers used to bypass international sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine.
These sanctions, including price caps on Russian oil, aim to curtail Moscow’s revenues.
However, the shadow fleet allows Russia to continue exporting oil globally while avoiding Western controls.
This fleet is composed of older, poorly maintained vessels often operating without reputable Western insurance, relying instead on obscure providers or none at all.
To evade detection, the fleet employs tactics such as turning off tracking systems, falsifying location data, and conducting ship-to-ship transfers at sea to disguise the oil’s origin.
Its opaque operations and lack of oversight create vulnerabilities for maritime safety and international law enforcement.
The airports in Esbjerg, Snderborg and Skrydstrup were also impacted, police said.
Authorities said they were unable to neutralise the drones but added there was no threat to the public.
Aalborg sits in northern Denmark’s Jutland region and ranks as the country’s fourth-biggest city by population.
In a news conference this morning, Peter Hummelgaard, Denmark’s justice minister, said the country was facing “hybrid threats” which are “here to stay”.
He said authorities are working around the clock to find out who launched the drones and why they were sent out.
When asked about Russian involvement, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen today said there is no evidence yet that Russia is behind the drone incursions.
He said that the drones were launched “locally” by a “professional actor” – though he added that this was different from previous incidents.
The defence chief said: “There can be no doubt that everything points to this being the work of a professional actor when we are talking about such a systematic operation in so many locations at virtually the same time.
Police officers stand guard after all traffic was closed at Copenhagen airport[/caption]
Drones flew over multiple airports across Denmark and caused one of them to close for hours[/caption]
“This is what I would define as a hybrid attack using different types of drones.”
It is worth noting that Nato on its website says that Russia is “known to use sophisticated hybrid strategies, including political interference, malicious cyber activities, economic pressure and coercion, subversion, aggression and annexation”.
Danish authorities said they have reached out to Nato about the string of drone incursions – and may initiate Article 4 of the alliance.
Nato’s Article 4 triggers a serious discussion with member countries on security matters.
It is usually initiated if any member country believes that its own or another country’s territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.
Security concerns in Europe are at a heightened state following an increase in Russian sabotage activities and multiple drone and fighter jet incursions into Nato airspace in recent weeks.
Poland downed drones that violated its airspace on September 10 as Russia launched a wave of aerial attacks on Ukraine.
It prompted a dramatic million-dollar response from Nato as fighter jets were scrambled and Patriot air defence systems placed on alert.
It marked the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that Nato has directly engaged with Russian forces.
And it was followed by a Russian drone overflying Romania for 50 minutes on Saturday.
Russian pilots later staged a 12-minute incursion into Nato airspace.
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonia’s airspace “without clearance” – triggering an emergency Nato meeting.
The fighter jets reportedly flew over Vaindloo Island and stayed there for nearly 12 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, Polish authorities reported a “low flyover” of Russian military planes near an oil and gas platform.
Donald Trump responded to the reckless violation and said the incursion could cause “big trouble”.
Last weekend, Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airports were all thrown into turmoil after a massive cyberattack.
Airlines were forced to fall back on paper-based workarounds to get travellers boarded.
The EU’s cybersecurity agency confirmed malicious software was used to lock airport systems, saying: “The type of ransomware has been identified. Law enforcement is involved to investigate.”
Intelligence experts believe this latest wave of chaos bears all the hallmarks of a state-backed hit job.
Security and politics expert Anthony Glees told The Sun: “Without doubt, the Russians are behind these attacks on airports in London, Berlin and Brussels.
“No one can doubt that Putin’s strategic planners are the beneficiaries here because they have been able to demonstrate they can attack our cyberspace with impunity and at will.”
