Denmark has accused a Russian warship of firing two emergency flares at one of its military helicopters during a monitoring operation in the Baltic Sea. Also summoning the Russian ambassador and triggering a sharp diplomatic exchange between Copenhagen and Moscow.
The Danish armed forces confirmed that a Fennec helicopter was fired at on Monday. This occurred while conducting what it described as a “routine photographic operation” of a Russian frigate in international waters off Gedser. One of the two flares passed close to the aircraft. The Danish foreign ministry called the incident “completely unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the Russian action as “reckless” and said it was designed to “intimidate and divide.” Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen accused Russia of “gradually shifting the boundary for what they consider acceptable behaviour.” Further adding that Denmark could not accept the pattern.
Russia’s Response
Russia’s response was to deflect. Ambassador Vladimir Barbin accused the Danish side of “recklessness” and “provocative actions,” claiming Danish helicopters had made “dangerous manoeuvres” near Russian warships. Further describing the latest incident as consistent with previous Danish behaviour. He said he had raised concerns about a similar incident the previous year. Russia’s foreign ministry said it would “thoroughly investigate” the matter.
Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus told Reuters that no attempt had been made by the frigate’s crew to make contact with the helicopter before firing the flares.
The incident in the Baltic came on the same day NATO forces shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight, likely from Belarus. Lithuanian authorities said the drone entered southern Lithuania near the city of Kaunas after midnight on Tuesday. The origin of the drone was not immediately confirmed.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda posted on X that Russia’s intensifying aggression made such readiness vital for the region.
