Danish military intelligence reported today (Thursday) an increasing risk of Russia taking military action against a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stressing at the same time that the possibility of a comprehensive Russian invasion is “extremely unlikely,” but it remains possible, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
European countries are on high alert in anticipation of any Russian intervention, amid fears that Moscow will target Western countries supporting Kiev, with more than four and a half years having passed since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The head of Danish military intelligence, Thomas Ahrenkel, explained during a press conference in which he presented the latest assessment of the Russian threat: “There is a small but increasing risk that Russia will launch limited military attacks against a NATO member state neighboring Russia.”
He added: “We still consider it very unlikely that Russia would see any interest in invading a NATO member state, but we cannot rule out this possibility.”
In its assessment, the agency suggested that Russia would carry out more “multi-means attacks” against targets in the West.
He noted that such attacks in the past were “primarily aimed at intimidation and weakening popular support for helping Ukraine.”
But he pointed out that these operations have now begun to include movements aimed at preventing support from reaching Ukraine, such as acts of sabotage against defense companies or railway lines transporting military equipment.
The agency noted that Russia will intensify these operations, including “devastating cyberattacks that paralyze vital social functions.”
The agency also reported a small possibility that Russia would launch a limited military attack even as the war in Ukraine continued, in an attempt to redirect European resources away from Kiev.
He explained in his report that “launching a limited military attack would be a desperate step on Russia’s part, and it may take place along the lines of intense multi-means attacks in the coming months.”
But he pointed out that "the mobilization of forces requires several months of preparation and will be difficult to hide."
Ehrenkel stressed that although “Russia's increasing willingness to take risks has consequences for the security situation in Denmark,” particularly through multi-media attacks, this does not mean that Russia is about to attack a Scandinavian country.
He stressed: “We do not expect a conventional Russian military attack on Denmark.”
The Danish National Security and Intelligence Service said in a statement that the current situation “may lead to increased Russian influence activities, as well as the risk of espionage and sabotage in Denmark.”
The agency previously indicated that sabotage operations mainly threaten defense industries and aid granted to Ukraine.
Moscow reiterated its repeatedly affirmed position that it “will not suspend” its military operations in Ukraine for fear that Europe will exploit the temporary pause and supply more weapons to Kiev, while it said that it is still considering the invitation extended by Washington to Russian President Vladimir Putin, to participate in the “G20 Summit” that will be held in Miami, United States.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed the UN Security Council: “We will not suspend our special military operation,” referring to Russia’s official characterization of the invasion that it began in 2022, accusing Europe of seeking to exploit any cessation of fighting in order to “supply the Kiev regime with weapons.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed, on Wednesday, his concern about the possibility of the Russian-Ukrainian war expanding and spreading to other countries, through hybrid attacks, sabotage operations, or even as a result of a miscalculation that could ignite a direct confrontation.
“Among the many concerns we have about the war between Russia and Ukraine is the possibility that it will expand and spread to other regions,” Rubio told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York. He added: “It can expand to another place, whether through a hybrid attack, a sabotage attack, or through miscalculation - such as a pilot, for example, mistakenly heading in the opposite direction, and you suddenly find yourself facing actual combat.”
Rubio continued: “These matters raise great concern. We raise these concerns in multiple meetings with many countries because they are a cause for real concern.”
Rubio's statements came shortly after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York. Despite his concern, Rubio expressed in a press interview his optimism that Russia and Ukraine expressed their desire to reach a limited ceasefire that includes the grain and energy sectors.
The US Secretary of State had confirmed, after meeting with his Russian counterpart, on Wednesday, that Trump had invited Putin to participate in the summit scheduled to be held in Miami in December. The move comes amid faltering American efforts to reach an agreement to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while Trump stresses that he is working with both parties to stop the war.
The presidents of the United States and Russia spoke by phone on several occasions, but their last direct meeting dates back to 2025. The G20 summit will be held on December 14 and 15, and the United States holds the rotating presidency of the group, which includes the largest advanced and emerging economies.
The Kremlin said on Thursday that no decision had yet been made on holding a possible summit in December between the two presidents, and that it was too early to discuss the agenda. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia appreciates this invitation and will decide its response to it. Peskov added in his daily press briefing: “No decision has been taken yet,” noting that he attaches “great importance” to the invitation announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. He added: “We will look into it and then make the appropriate decision.”
Since his return to the White House in January last year, Trump has been trying to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine, without achieving tangible progress. Peskov said that Russia seeks a peaceful settlement, not a temporary ceasefire.
In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed, before the leaders of countries at the United Nations, on Wednesday, that Kiev is ready for a naval truce in the Black Sea based on proposals made by several countries, and he said that the ball is now in Russia’s court to respond.
Zelensky spoke at the Ukrainian “Crimea Platform” summit, on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, and before a Security Council meeting was held regarding the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.
Ukraine is pressing for a ceasefire that includes attacks on energy infrastructure and maritime navigation in the Black Sea. Kiev fears that Russia plans to bomb its energy and heating facilities with missiles and drones this winter.
Zelensky said that Egypt, India and Turkey have identified options to restore navigational security for commercial ships in the Black Sea, where shipping traffic has almost stopped due to intensified attacks on ships and port infrastructure from both sides. He said: “We are waiting for Russia’s response. Ukraine is ready... to ensure navigation and food security in the Black Sea if Russia is also prepared to take real steps towards reducing tension. We have to start somewhere.”
Zelensky met with the US President on Tuesday, and said that they also discussed stopping targeting energy facilities. Before the Lavrov-Rubio meeting, the Kremlin said there were no reasons to hold broader peace talks on Ukraine, while noting that it remained open to such talks. The Kremlin spokesman told reporters: “At the present time, there are no preconditions for moving to the path of peaceful negotiation, although we, the Russian party, remain open to peace talks.” Zelensky said yesterday that he would be ready to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Trump's presence.
Zelensky urged world leaders to continue to stifle Russia's revenues and obstruct its war efforts, telling the UN General Assembly that "Russia's revenues must remain a target." “When someone gives Russia more money through trade, they give this war more time,” he said, speaking in English. “It is precisely for this reason that we insist on limiting trade with the aggressor and burning Russia’s revenues ourselves.”
Zelensky warned Moscow, at the United Nations, that Ukraine would respond and make the coming winter extremely harsh for Russia if the two parties were unable to reach a ceasefire agreement regarding attacks on energy facilities before the cold sets in.
“Ukrainians realize that this winter could be very tough for us,” Zelensky said in New York. But in response, we will have no choice but to make it painful for Russia as well.”
Russia will deliver its speech next Saturday, before the General Assembly. President Vladimir Putin has not traveled to the United Nations for years, and instead sent Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Zelensky added in his speech that Ukraine handed over two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, adding: “We recently sent North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea.” He added: “It was not easy to capture these two men alive.” Zelensky did not provide further details about the extradition process. Ukraine captured the two North Korean soldiers in the Russian Kursk region in January last year. They were the first two North Korean soldiers to be captured alive since their country joined the Russia-Ukraine war in 2024.
Zelensky had said at the time that he would hand them over to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if he helped exchange them for Ukrainians detained in Russia. However, human rights organizations urged him to hand them over to South Korea, attributing this to the dangers they might face in North Korea. South Korean media reported that the two soldiers expressed their desire to seek asylum in South Korea.
A South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine had been transferred to South Korea after months of negotiations. Representative Yoo Young-won, who met the two men during a visit to Ukraine in 2025 and has since organized campaigns for their transfer, said they arrived in South Korea several days ago.
According to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates, North Korea has sent between 14,000 and 15,000 soldiers since 2024 to support Russia's war against Ukraine, and most of them were deployed in the Russian Kursk region, where they helped Moscow forces repel a Ukrainian incursion. According to Ukrainian and independent assessments; North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells, mortars, ballistic missiles, and more.
About ten powerful explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, early Thursday, according to what Agence France-Presse correspondents reported, coinciding with the authorities issuing a warning of a missile attack.
The explosions, which set off car alarms so powerfully, come a day after Russia launched a series of strikes that killed at least seven people in Ukraine and sparked fires in Kiev. Before the explosions occurred, the Ukrainian Air Force had issued a warning of a Russian attack after monitoring the flight of ballistic missiles towards Kiev and its surroundings, as well as towards the Chernihiv region in the north of the capital.
Seven people were killed and ten others were injured in a Russian drone attack on Thursday that targeted an agricultural facility in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergei Korytsky. The Prime Minister wrote on the Telegram application: “This morning, a drone hit an agricultural facility, killing seven people and wounding ten others.”
