Russian frigate fires flares at Danish military helicopter over Baltic Sea
Denmark summoned Moscow's ambassador on Tuesday after a Russian frigate launched two warning flares near a Danish Fennec helicopter conducting surveillance in international waters off Gedser.
Flare encounter off Gedser
On Monday, 14 September 2026, a Russian frigate launched two flares at a Danish Air Force AS-550 Fennec helicopter operating in international waters in the Baltic Sea. The incident took place off the coast of Gedser, Denmark's southernmost town, while the helicopter crew was conducting routine aerial photography of the Russian vessel. Danish military officials confirmed that one of the two pyrotechnic flares passed in close proximity to the aircraft. Flares burn at temperatures between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees Celsius and are commonly employed for maritime signalling or infrared diversion. Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus described the encounter as a serious incident and briefed parliamentary party representatives at the Ministry of Defence.
- Danish helicopter flies near Russian anti-submarine ship Vice-Admiral Kulakov
- Russian frigate fires two flares near Danish Fennec helicopter off Gedser
- Denmark summons Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin over the Baltic incident
Diplomatic confrontation in Copenhagen
The Danish government responded on Tuesday by summoning the Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned the Russian crew's conduct, stating that the release of flares posed a direct risk to human lives. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the event as an effort to test alliance resolve in Northern Europe.
Russian actions are meant to intimidate and divide. They will not succeed. We will not waver.
Rasmussen rejected Moscow's justifications for the incident, arguing that Danish surveillance flights over international waters comply fully with international maritime and aviation norms.
Moscow alleges dangerous air manoeuvres
The Russian embassy in Copenhagen rejected Denmark's account and placed responsibility for the incident entirely on the Danish military. Ambassador Vladimir Barbin stated that the Danish helicopter engaged in provocative and dangerous manoeuvres near the frigate outside Denmark's territorial boundaries. Barbin submitted an official diplomatic note demanding that Copenhagen take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, while noting that Russia is conducting a full investigation.
The Danish side's attempts to explain the helicopter's provocative actions against the Russian frigate as 'routine practice' give rise to serious concern about the possible consequences of such recklessness.
Barbin also recalled a previous dispute from 27 August 2025, during which he protested low-altitude flights by a Danish helicopter over the Russian anti-submarine warship Vice-Admiral Kulakov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to provide details on the encounter, stating that he was not in a position to comment.
Regional security and European reactions
The confrontation in Danish waters coincided with additional military activity across the Baltic region. Early Tuesday, NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus near Kaunas. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed both incidents, describing them as deliberate provocations intended to gauge European readiness.
These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation against Europe, aiming to test our readiness and resolve.
The incident off Gedser also follows a statement by Danish counterintelligence chief Emil Gresholm ten days earlier, who reported that Danish security services uncovered potential sabotage plots targeting domestic defence industry facilities.
