Afət Ziyadqızı
The Danish government has summoned Russia’s ambassador in Copenhagen to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the firing of flares from a Russian military vessel at a Danish Air Force helicopter in the Baltic Sea.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense Command provided the information.
According to the report, the incident occurred off the coast of Gedser, in international waters, during a routine photography and surveillance mission by a Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter near a Russian frigate. The Russian warship launched two flares in the direction of the helicopter, one of which passed very close to the aircraft. Military aviation experts and the Danish Air Force command said the action posed a direct flight-safety risk to the crew and the rotary-wing aircraft, which was conducting the photography mission with its doors open.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the incident as “completely unacceptable,” saying Moscow was gradually attempting to cross the boundaries of acceptable conduct. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it an irresponsible act aimed at intimidating and dividing European countries. Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus said parliamentary parties had been briefed on the incident and consultations with allies were continuing, but added that there was currently no basis for invoking Article 4 or Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, said Moscow would investigate the details of the incident but accused the Danish helicopter of making dangerous maneuvers near the Russian warship and provoking the situation.
Meanwhile, NATO fighter jets shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and was suspected of carrying explosives. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO representatives described both incidents as part of what they characterized as Russia’s broader efforts to escalate tensions and provoke the alliance.
