Brief
Denmark warns of rising Russian hybrid attacks on NATO allies
The Danish defence intelligence service has warned that Russia could increase hybrid attacks on NATO members in the coming months, citing cyber‑attacks, sabotage and a small chance of a limited military strike.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Danish defence intelligence released a report on 24 September warning that Russia may step up hybrid attacks on NATO allies, including cyber‑attacks, sabotage and a small but growing risk of a limited military strike. The assessment said the threat is "low but growing" and that Russia could use a limited attack to divert European resources from Ukraine and sow division within NATO.
Key points of the Danish warning
- Russia is expected to conduct more frequent hybrid attacks on European support for Ukraine, with higher consequences for targeted countries.
- Potential attacks include cyber‑operations, sabotage of critical infrastructure and high‑risk acts that could cause casualties.
- There is a "low but growing" risk of a limited military attack on a neighbouring NATO country, possibly a long‑range strike or a false‑flag operation using Ukrainian drones.
- The report states an outright invasion of a NATO country is highly unlikely but cannot be ruled out.
- Russia may view the next few years as a "window of opportunity" if the US response is uncertain.
European context
The Danish warning follows a series of alerts from other European intelligence services. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned NATO on 18 September of hybrid drone and missile attacks aimed at Ukraine’s allies, while European spy chiefs on 20 September cautioned that Russia could launch a limited attack within months. A Kremlin statement on 26 September noted a shift to covert attacks and sabotage across Europe.
Implications for NATO
Defence officials say the warning underscores the need for heightened vigilance and intelligence sharing. NATO has been bolstering cyber and physical defence measures in response to the growing threat of hybrid warfare.
Key facts
- Denmark warns of rising Russian hybrid attacks on NATO allies (theguardian.com)
- Threat includes cyber‑attacks, sabotage and a low but growing risk of limited military strike (theguardian.com)
- Russia may use a limited attack to divert resources from Ukraine and sow division within NATO (theguardian.com)
- An outright invasion of a NATO country is highly unlikely but not ruled out (theguardian.com)
Background
Earlier Felo coverage noted Denmark’s 25 September alert about potential limited attacks on NATO borders and Poland’s 18 September warning of hybrid drone strikes. The 20 September European spy‑chiefs’ warning and the 26 September Kremlin statement also highlighted the shift to covert attacks across Europe.
Timeline
- 2026-09-18 — Poland warns NATO of hybrid drone attacks
- 2026-09-20 — European spy chiefs warn of imminent Russian attack on NATO
- 2026-09-25 — Denmark warns of potential Russian attack on NATO
- 2026-09-26 — Kremlin tests Europe’s limits with hybrid warfare
Why it matters
The warning signals a potential escalation of hybrid warfare that could disrupt European infrastructure and challenge NATO’s collective defence.
What happens next
NATO and European allies are expected to review and enhance cyber and physical defence protocols in response to the Danish intelligence report.
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Denmark warns that Russia expected to escalate hybrid warfare against Nato allies in coming months – Europe live”
