Helicopter infuriates Moscow: Denmark's ambassador summoned

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On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Danish ambassador to protest what it described as dangerous maneuvers carried out by a Danish helicopter near a Russian frigate, in an incident that occurred on September 14, during which the frigate fired signal flares towards the helicopter, according to what Copenhagen announced. Moscow denied responsibility for the accident and held the helicopter responsible.

The Danish Defense Command said that an Air Force "Finnik" helicopter was carrying out a routine photographic mission of the Russian frigate in international waters off Gedser in the Baltic Sea, and that the frigate fired two flares at it, one of which passed close to it. The helicopter did not suffer any damage, and none of its crew members were injured, according to Agence France-Presse.

Copenhagen summoned the Russian ambassador on September 15. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løke Rasmussen described the incident as completely unacceptable and could endanger lives, and said that Russia is gradually pushing the limits of what it considers acceptable behavior. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the incident was serious but not surprising, and that it was part of an escalating “hybrid” campaign launched by Moscow against the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Danish ambassador to Moscow was summoned to the ministry on September 30, and that the diplomat was informed that the Russian side considered the dangerous maneuvers carried out by a Danish Air Force helicopter to be a flagrant violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Ministry warned that such actions could lead to escalation of tensions and create the risk of a serious accident. She described the Danish accusations as not standing up to any criticism.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the helicopter approached the ship and did not respond to calls through the international communication channel. Copenhagen did not immediately respond to the ambassador's summons.

The incident comes in light of escalating tensions between Russia and the European countries supporting Ukraine, including Denmark, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. NATO has accused Russia of waging an escalating campaign of hybrid warfare against Kiev's European backers, an accusation Moscow rejects.

The Danish Straits are the main outlet for commercial and military navigation to and from the Baltic Sea, and are also a major artery for global oil shipments, including the Russian “shadow fleet” tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions. The incident is not the first of its kind in the region, as a helicopter operating from the German frigate North Rhine-Westphalia encountered red flares fired by a Russian ship in November 2024 during an escort mission in the Baltics.