Recruitment through ordinary digital platforms is blurring the boundary between espionage and everyday life.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service has warned that Russian intelligence agencies are actively preparing possible sabotage operations against targets inside the country. PET, the Danish domestic security agency, identified companies connected to the defense industry and military assistance for Ukraine as areas of particular concern.
According to PET, suspected Russian operatives are attempting to recruit ordinary Danish citizens through social media, gaming platforms and other online channels. Initial assignments may appear harmless, such as photographing a warehouse, documenting factory delivery schedules or gathering information about sensitive infrastructure. Intelligence officials warn that these activities can provide the surveillance needed to plan arson, physical disruption or more serious attacks.
PET said the threat is sufficiently concrete to justify a public warning, but it did not disclose operational evidence or identify specific companies believed to be targeted. No completed Russian-directed attack in Denmark was announced alongside the assessment. The warning therefore represents an intelligence evaluation of preparations and intent rather than confirmation that a particular sabotage operation is imminent.
Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, rejected the allegations and argued that PET had not presented supporting evidence. He claimed that Denmark’s military support for Ukraine and its role in Western logistics had increased risks for the country. Moscow has repeatedly denied conducting sabotage campaigns in Europe, even as several European governments have attributed fires, cyberattacks, infrastructure incidents and espionage operations to Russian-linked actors.
The Danish warning reflects a broader security challenge facing Europe. Recruiting local intermediaries allows a foreign intelligence service to operate at low cost, obscure direct responsibility and exploit people who may not initially understand the purpose of their assignments. Such methods remain below the threshold of conventional warfare while potentially disrupting weapons production and weakening public support for Ukraine. Denmark’s immediate task is therefore not only protecting defense facilities, but also helping citizens recognize when a simple online request may form part of a hostile intelligence operation.
Hechos que no se doblan. / Facts that do not bend.