Russia has warned Denmark against reckless behaviour following an incident over the Baltic Sea on September 14, where a Russian frigate fired two flares that narrowly missed a Danish military helicopter. The Royal Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter was photographing the Russian frigate in international waters off Gedser when the flares were fired, with one passing within metres of the aircraft. Denmark’s defence command reported that neither the crew nor the aircraft was harmed, though officials characterized the event as a serious safety incident.
Danish officials condemned the actions, with the Defence Minister accusing Russia of deeply unprofessional seamanship and the Foreign Minister calling the incident completely unacceptable. Conversely, Russia’s ambassador in Copenhagen rejected this characterisation, blamed dangerous manoeuvres by the Danish aircraft, and delivered a formal diplomatic note demanding preventative measures. The ambassador also mentioned a previous complaint regarding alleged low-altitude fly-bys by a Danish helicopter over a different Russian warship the previous year.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the episode as serious but unsurprising, viewing it as part of a broader pattern of Russian hybrid pressure intended to test NATO’s resolve and sow fear across Europe. While officials are treating the incident seriously, the Defence Minister stated they are not yet seeking formal Article 5 consultations under NATO’s collective-defence framework. The confrontation occurred in the Danish Straits, a key shipping gateway for the Baltic Sea, adding strategic significance to an event that compounds growing concerns about the Ukraine war spilling over into direct friction with NATO states.