In Denmark, military personnel were dismissed due to family ties to Russia
In Denmark, an aircraft mechanic, an officer, and a nurse were discharged from the military after intelligence revealed that they had relatives in Russia. Specifically, Officer Frederik Hansen was discharged after 43 years of service because his wife is a Russian citizen.
This was reported by DR.
Frederik’s wife has relatives in Russia. Because of this, he lost his security clearance and his job in the military.
Frederik Hansen had had continuous access to classified information in the Military Intelligence Service since 1982.
“This came as a huge surprise to me—a very big one. But it was an even bigger surprise for my wife,” says Frederik Hansen.
The reason is that his wife, a Danish citizen of Russian descent, has relatives in Russia—specifically a sister and a mother.
Intelligence officials believe this poses a security risk, while Frederik Hansen calls it “pure discrimination.”
“I informed intelligence about this back in 2011, when we got married. Since then, they’ve granted me clearance three times—in 2014, 2018, and 2022—so I thought: okay, that means they’re fine with it,” he says.
Frederik Hansen is an army captain who has served in combat zones five times, worked as a security officer at NATO headquarters in Kosovo, and served as a military advisor in Afghanistan.
He has also received several medals for “dedicated service in the army.” He received the last one—the Gold Oak Leaf for Meritorious Service—a month before losing his security clearance.
However, intelligence officials cited a “significant and serious threat of espionage and influence” from foreign intelligence services.
In Denmark, 23-year-old Harald Svendsen, who was building a successful career in the Air Force, was also discharged from the military, according to TV2.
After completing his mandatory military service in 2022, he was hired by the Air Force, where he was responsible for planning and coordinating flights of F-16 fighter jets.
Last summer, he was poised to take an important step up the career ladder. He was recommended for work with the new F-35 aircraft, which requires the highest level of security clearance.
However, everything changed when military intelligence began investigating his family ties.
“I never thought I could be suspected of being a potential spy or a victim of Russian intelligence. I didn’t do anything,” he says.
During an interview in September 2023, he was questioned in detail about his personal life.
His mother was born in Russia but has lived in Denmark since 1993 and served in the military.
He also mentioned an uncle who lives in Moscow and once served in the Soviet Army from 1988 to 1990.
“I hardly know him. We just exchange holiday greetings,” says Harald.
He himself does not speak Russian and has been to Russia only once in his life.
However, it was precisely this connection that proved decisive: in February of this year, he was denied admission.
His mother, Tatiana Svendsen, was also discharged from the army. The reason: that same brother in Russia.
She is an anesthesiologist who has served in the army since 2010 and participated in eight international missions.
Recall that Denmark was preparing for warwith the U.S.: blood was being delivered to Greenland, and plans were made to blow up the airfield.
We also reported that the U.S. authorized operations involving Russian oil on sanctioned tankers.
Denmark asked U.S. senators not to hold a vote on Greenland.
