Russian frigate fires flares towards Danish military helicopter, Denmark says
Danish officials said the helicopter was on a routine surveillance mission and that one flare passed close to the aircraft, prompting a diplomatic protest.
- A Russian frigate fired two flares toward a Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter operating in international waters off the coast of Gedser in southern Denmark.
- The Danish Defence Command confirmed that the helicopter was conducting a routine surveillance flight when one flare passed at close range, though no injuries or aircraft damage occurred.
- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen summoned the Russian ambassador, strongly condemning the incident as unacceptable behavior that needlessly endangered military personnel.
- Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen characterized the warship's actions as an attempt to intimidate NATO allies amidst broader security tensions in the Baltic Sea region.
- The confrontation adds to rising regional friction following recent airspace violations and drone incidents across the alliance's eastern flank.
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318 Articles
Two Russian emergency missiles put the instability around the Baltic Sea outlet in a flash. Denmark – and Sweden – have reason to take the shelling of the Danish helicopter at Falster very seriously.
According to Copenhagen, a Russian frigate fired two beacons on a Danish military helicopter in international waters off the Danish coast.
"Russian actions are aimed at intimidating and sowing discord," the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said. "They will not succeed. We will not give up," she said on social network X. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned "the irresponsible and dangerous Russian behaviour", referring to the incident of the flare fire and to the fact that NATO planes had shot a drone over Lithuania, although the origin of the drone …
The Independent
The Independent (US)Russia shoots flares at Danish helicopter amid fears over Ukraine conflict spreading
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