The Danish government has formally summoned the Russian ambassador after a Russian frigate allegedly fired two emergency flares at a Danish Fennec helicopter. The incident occurred on Monday while the aircraft was conducting a routine photographic mission in international waters near Gedser.
Danish officials reported that one of the flares passed in close proximity to the helicopter. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen characterized the maneuver as a "reckless" attempt to intimidate, while Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen labeled the behavior "completely unacceptable." Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus noted that the Russian crew made no attempt to establish communication with the helicopter prior to the incident.
In response, Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin stated that Moscow would conduct a thorough investigation. However, he also alleged that the Danish helicopter had performed "dangerous manoeuvres" and engaged in "provocative actions," claiming that similar issues had been raised regarding Danish operations in the past.
The confrontation coincides with heightened security tensions across the Baltic region. On the same day, NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down a drone that had entered Lithuanian airspace from the direction of Belarus. Additionally, Poland reported increased aviation activity to secure its borders in response to Russian drone strikes targeting Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the events, describing the flare incident and the drone incursion as part of a "broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation against Europe."
Source: BBC News
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