A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military Fennec helicopter in international waters south of Denmark on Monday, in an incident that triggered an immediate diplomatic response from Copenhagen. One flare passed close to the aircraft during a routine photographic mission near Gedser, but no injuries or damage were reported.
Denmark’s armed forces described the flares as pyrotechnics typically used as warning signals at sea. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the encounter unacceptable and said it could have endangered lives, while the Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador for talks. The episode comes amid persistent tensions in the Baltic Sea, where military activity and airspace incidents have heightened concern among NATO members.