Denmark summons Russian ambassador after frigate fires flares near military helicopter

Copenhagen, Denmark. A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark’s coast on Monday, with one passing close to the aircraft, Denmark’s defence command said.

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called the incident unacceptable and said Russia’s ambassador had been summoned for a meeting.

Routine mission

The Fennec military helicopter was conducting a routine mission to photograph the Russian frigate when the flares were fired, the Danish defence command said in a statement late on Monday.

Flares are pyrotechnics generally used as warning signals at sea.

Diplomatic response

Rasmussen said the incident could have endangered human lives.

“For our part, Denmark is working to ensure that all shipping can pass peacefully through Danish waters, but Russia is gradually moving the line for what it considers acceptable behaviour,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular office hours.