Russian Warship Fires Flares at Danish Air Force Helicopter Over International Waters

A Russian Navy frigate fired two flares toward a Danish Air Force helicopter while the aircraft was operating over international waters near Denmark, with one of the flares passing close to the helicopter.

According to the Danish Armed Forces on September 14, the Fennec helicopter was carrying out routine photographic surveillance of the Russian warship in international waters off Gedser when the frigate fired two flares in its direction.

One of the flares passed within a short distance of the Danish helicopter, the military said. The Danish Armed Forces did not report any damage to the aircraft or injuries among the crew.

The Danish military said flares are pyrotechnic devices that are normally used as warning or attention signals at sea. It did not provide further details about the circumstances of the encounter or identify the Russian frigate involved.

The incident prompted a diplomatic response from Copenhagen. Denmark’s Foreign Ministry described the Russian warship’s actions as unacceptable and said the Russian ambassador had been summoned over the episode.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen separately described the frigate’s actions as “reckless.”

The encounter took place as Danish forces continued monitoring Russian military activity in waters near Denmark. The helicopter was conducting a routine mission at the time of the incident, according to the Danish Armed Forces.

Earlier, in June 2026, a Russian corvette intercepted a Danish unmanned sea drone during trials southeast of Bornholm, approaching within about 200 meters before launching a reconnaissance drone to inspect the vessel at close range.

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