Denmark has summoned Russia’s ambassador after it said a Russian frigate fired two emergency flares toward a Danish military helicopter during a monitoring mission in the Baltic Sea.
The Danish armed forces said the incident occurred on Monday as an air force Fennec helicopter carried out a routine photographic operation involving the Russian vessel in international waters off Gedser. It said one of the two flares passed close to the helicopter.
Denmark’s foreign ministry called the episode completely unacceptable. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described Russia’s conduct as reckless and said it was intended to intimidate and divide.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Moscow was steadily moving the limits of behaviour it regarded as acceptable, adding that Denmark could not accept that approach.
Russia disputes Danish account
Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin said Moscow would investigate the circumstances of the incident. However, he accused the Danish helicopter of taking provocative action and said Danish air force helicopters had previously carried out dangerous manoeuvres close to Russian warships.
Barbin said he had raised a complaint over a similar event last year and argued that the latest episode showed communication problems were on the Danish side. Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus told Reuters that the frigate’s crew had made no attempt to contact the helicopters.
Heightened regional tensions
The incident came as NATO forces shot down a drone after it entered Lithuanian airspace overnight. Lithuanian authorities said the drone likely crossed into southern Lithuania from Belarus shortly after midnight on Tuesday, although its origin had not been established.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Baltic Sea episode and the drone incident were part of what she called a broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation against Europe. Poland also reported preventive aviation operations on Monday night in response to Russian jet-powered drones conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory.
Source: BBC News
