Russia has dismissed allegations by Denmark's immigration minister that Moscow played a role in the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, calling the claims "unsubstantiated" and accusing the European Union of shifting blame for its migration challenges onto external actors.
In a statement to Denmark's Radio4, the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen rejected remarks by Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration Morten Bødskov, who suggested that Russia may have been involved in the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta as part of a "hybrid warfare" campaign.
"Bødskov has not presented any evidence of illegal actions by Russia that can be substantiated," the embassy said, according to Radio4.
The embassy argued that the minister's accusations were based on "speculation" and reflected what it described as the EU's and Denmark's broader policy of "inflating hostility toward Russia."
It also referred to a 2018 United Nations General Assembly resolution urging states to refrain from making unfounded accusations against other countries.
"The European Union and Denmark are seeking to evade responsibility for the catastrophic migration situation and shift the blame to external forces," the Russian diplomatic mission said.
Bødskov had told Radio4 that the unprecedented migrant crossings into Ceuta could be linked to Russian influence operations, claiming that documents pointed to heightened Russian activity surrounding the crisis, including thousands of posts on pro-Moscow Telegram channels discussing the events.
Ceuta experienced an unprecedented wave of migrant arrivals in late July, prompting renewed debate across Europe over migration management and border security.
On Tuesday, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that around 72,000 migrants had entered Ceuta during the crisis, adding that approximately 70,000 had since returned.
