We know that Russia is behind a number of sabotage, including cyber attacks, against Western countries, he says at a press conference.
Recently, several drone incidents against Danish airports and military facilities have occurred. Copenhagen Airport Kastrup was forced to close its airspace for several hours last week when drones entered, resulting in several cancelled flights.
Airports such as Ålborg, Esbjerg, Sønderborg, Skrydstrup and Billund also had to handle drone alarms and in many cases shut down traffic.
War in the grey zone
The approach is described as "part of the DNA of hybrid warfare":
It is a war in the grey zone. You use intermediaries who claim to be activists, criminals or something else, says Ahrenkiel.
Russia wants us to believe that there is an imminent threat of war. They want us to live in fear, he continues.
But the assessment that Russia will not carry out a full-scale military attack remains, according to the Danish intelligence chief.
But we expect to see more hybrid attacks: cyber attacks, sabotage and influence, he says.
"No military threat to Denmark"
It is likely that the hybrid threat from Russia will intensify in the coming years, according to Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. Therefore, Denmark must arm itself.
This requires measures here in Denmark, in Europe and within NATO, as well as a strong unity that must be stronger than ever before, says the Defence Minister.
The effort is by no means over, according to Troels Lund Poulsen.
Therefore, a massive build-up is important. We are fighting for our Western values, for freedom and democracy, he says.
The Defence Minister urges Danes to calm down.
There is no reason to fear that we are on our way to war. There is no military threat to Denmark, but there are other threats that we must deal with.
Russia dismisses
The Russian Embassy in Denmark dismisses the FE's assessment as politically motivated.
"The purpose is to justify the unjustified statements from Danish politicians about preparing for a direct military confrontation with Russia, their need to disrupt an agreement on the conflict in Ukraine and accusations that our country is waging a 'hybrid war'", the embassy writes in a comment to the Danish news agency Ritzau.
