Copenhagen: Denmark has raised concerns with Russia after a Russian naval frigate fired two flares toward a Danish military helicopter operating in international waters near Denmark.

The Danish Fennec helicopter was conducting a routine surveillance mission when the incident occurred. According to Danish authorities, one of the flares passed only a short distance from the aircraft.

Danish officials said the helicopter had been operating in international waters and was carrying out a mission to photograph and monitor the Russian vessel. The Danish military said there had been no warning or radio communication before the flares were launched.

The incident prompted Denmark to summon Russia’s ambassador in Copenhagen and seek an explanation for the actions of the Russian vessel.

Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus described the incident as a serious safety matter and said military aircraft operating in the area must be able to carry out their missions without being exposed to unnecessary risks.

Russia has provided a different account of the episode. Moscow accused Danish military helicopters of conducting dangerous maneuvers near Russian naval vessels and said it was investigating the incident.

Russia’s ambassador to Denmark also referred to an earlier incident involving a Danish military helicopter near a Russian warship in 2025.

The latest confrontation occurred in the Baltic Sea, a strategically important region where military activity has increased substantially since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The area is particularly sensitive because several NATO members border the Baltic Sea, while Russia maintains important naval facilities in the region.

Denmark has not treated the episode as an armed attack on its territory. Instead, diplomatic channels have been used to address the incident and seek clarification.

Military aircraft and naval vessels from different countries routinely operate in the Baltic and surrounding international waters. Encounters between them can therefore create significant safety concerns when aircraft and ships operate at close distances.

Danish authorities are continuing to monitor activity around the country’s maritime approaches while assessing the wider security situation in the Baltic Sea.

The incident has added another point of tension between Denmark and Russia at a time when European countries are paying increased attention to military activity around NATO’s northern and eastern regions.