Denmark has said that the Russian ambassador was summoned after a Russian frigate allegedly fired flares at a Danish military helicopter, while Moscow says Danish helicopters had carried out “dangerous manoeuvres".
"This is completely unacceptable. Therefore, Russia's ambassador has been summoned for a conversation about the incident," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on X on Tuesday.
Late on Monday, a Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter was fired at with flares "in connection with routine photo coverage of a Russian frigate, which was in international waters off Gedser," a coastal town on the island of Falster, the defence ministry said in a statement.
A Russian frigate fired two flares at the helicopter, with one passing "within a short distance of the helicopter," it added.
On X, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the incident, saying, "Reckless action from Russia towards the Danish military during a routine overflight yesterday. Russian actions are meant to intimidate and divide. They will not succeed. We will not waver.”
‘Dangerous manoeuvres’
The incident in Denmark came amid escalating tensions across Europe over a series of alleged sabotage attacks and airspace violations that European countries have blamed on Russia.
Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin said Russia would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Barbin said this was not the first time Danish Air Force helicopters had carried out “dangerous manoeuvres” near Russian warships.
He said he had previously raised concerns about such incidents and argued that the latest episode demonstrated “communication problems” on Copenhagen's part rather than with Russian Navy vessels.
“The Danish side’s attempts to explain the helicopter’s provocative actions against the Russian frigate as ‘routine practice’ give rise to serious concern about the possible consequences of such recklessness,” he told Russian media outlets, including state news agency RIA.
