Copenhagen, Sept. 15 (SANA) The Danish military said a Russian warship fired two flares toward a Danish military helicopter conducting a routine mission over the Baltic Sea off the coast of Gedser in southern Denmark, with one of the flares passing very close to the aircraft.
In a statement published on the official website of the Danish Defense Command, the military said one of its Fennec helicopters was targeted during a routine photographic reconnaissance mission near a Russian frigate anchored in international waters off Gedser.
The Danish military said no one on board the helicopter was injured.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the incident reflected what she described as a broader pattern of increasingly aggressive Russian behavior in Europe, saying that “the hybrid war against Europe has intensified.”
“Russia carried out a reckless act against the Danish military during a routine flight,” Frederiksen said, adding that such actions were intended to intimidate and create divisions but would not succeed.
She said the incident tested NATO and challenged its capabilities, adding that Denmark would not back down.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the incident as “completely unacceptable” and said it could have endangered lives.
Rasmussen said the Russian ambassador had been summoned to clarify the circumstances, adding that Moscow was gradually shifting what it considered acceptable behavior.
Flares are devices similar to fireworks that are commonly used as warning signals at sea.
Earlier this month, Copenhagen warned that Russia was preparing possible sabotage operations targeting Denmark, particularly its defense industry.
European countries have accused Russia in recent months of carrying out sabotage campaigns against states supporting Ukraine, amid heightened tensions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
kA/MF
