Denmark bans all civilian drones this week ahead of EU summit

Denmark’s Transport Ministry announced a nationwide ban on all civilian drone flights this week, citing heightened security concerns as the country hosts an EU summit gathering heads of governments.

The airspace closure follows a series of mysterious drone sightings across the country since Sept 22, prompting the temporary shutdown of several major airports and military facilities.

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"Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security. Therefore, from Monday to Friday, we will close the Danish airspace to all civilian drone flights," the ministry said.

The summit, which will bring together European leaders in Copenhagen, follows days of aerial intrusions that Danish officials have described as a potential "hybrid attack" on the nation's critical infrastructure.

The unexplained drone activity, which saw flights grounded for hours at Copenhagen Airport and other hubs, has raised international concerns, with Denmark publicly hinting at possible Russian involvement. 

Moscow, however, has rejected the charges. 

The repeated incursions have prompted Denmark to seek and accept a military anti-drone capability loan from Sweden ahead of the high-profile EU meeting.