BREAKING: Danish Defence Intelligence warns that Russia is expected to significantly intensify its hybrid war against the West and NATO in the coming months. An actual invasion of a NATO country is considered unlikely, but it can no longer be ruled out. Denmark says the situation is now more serious than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Thomas Ahrenkiel, head of Danish Defence Intelligence, says Russia is expected to launch more frequent attacks with potentially greater consequences for the countries affected, while seeking to weaken support for Ukraine and divide the NATO alliance. Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus says Russia has increased its activities in recent months, with increasingly serious hybrid attacks and more direct efforts to prevent support for Ukraine from reaching Kyiv. He points to sabotage against the defence industry and says Russia is fundamentally trying to pressure the West. Bruus warns that the increased Russian activity could lead to serious incidents in Denmark. He urges people to follow the authorities’ instructions and remain united, while stressing that Danish intelligence services, authorities and police have been preparing for these threats for a long time. The Danish assessment says Russia’s hybrid attacks in the coming months could become more frequent and have greater consequences for the countries affected. Bruus says more than ten serious incidents have been seen across Europe in recent months, including the incident in the waters off Gedser and the discovery of drones at Leipzig Airport in Germany. He stresses that Denmark is not currently talking about military attacks against the Kingdom of Denmark. Ahrenkiel says Russia has intensified its hybrid attacks in recent months, involving missiles, drones and attacks against targets across Europe. He also says it is new that Danish intelligence can no longer rule out an actual Russian invasion of a NATO country, although such an invasion remains unlikely. He describes the situation as dangerous. According to Ahrenkiel, limited military attacks could include isolated strikes with long-range weapons such as drones or missiles against infrastructure that plays a role in supporting Ukraine. He also warns that Russia could use false-flag operations. Another scenario would involve Russia deploying military forces into a limited area of a NATO country bordering Russia, potentially under the pretext of protecting local Russian minorities. Ahrenkiel says the aim would be to divide the alliance. Finally, Danish Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard says the threats from Russia against Denmark and its allies have increased. He says Denmark’s military is adapting in cooperation with intelligence services and NATO, including bringing forward major investments in the army brigade and the acquisition of fighter aircraft. Hyldgaard says the Armed Forces are prepared: "We will fight and win with what we have and those we fight with. We are ready to do so regardless of the threat." More information is coming soon as the Danish Defence Intelligence Service holds a press conference on the new assessment and the Russian threat.

NEW: Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the recent riots in Milan and other parts of Italy were the result of what he called a hybrid war being waged against Western countries through unconventional tools such as TikTok, social media and YouTube. Crosetto said that three in ten young people had participated in the demonstrations and six in ten supported them, arguing that young people had been subjected to a counter-education outside their families and schools that shaped their values, ambitions and worldview in ways that conflict with democratic rules.